Principal will not get his job back

It is "quite impracticable" for Glasgow Caledonian University to reinstate former principal Stan Mason, sacked two years ago for gross misconduct, an employment appeal tribunal has ruled, writes Olga Wojtas.

The Glasgow tribunal, headed by Court of Session judge Lord Coulsfield, said Dr Mason had been unfairly dismissed. But it upheld the university's appeal against reinstating him.

Dr Mason had been guilty of misconduct through his involvement in the appointment of his daughter-in-law, Sadie Mason, and Stephen McLaughlin, the son of friends. The appeal tribunal said this breach of trust was so serious that a proper working relationship between him and the university court would be impossible.

Glasgow Caledonian must now return to the original tribunal panel for a ruling on compensation to Dr Mason. If it had been obliged to reinstate him, he could have won around Pounds 150,000, but this may now be reduced to Pounds 12,000.

A university spokesperson said the appeal tribunal's decision was "very welcome" as it brought the lengthy proceedings to an end and provided added impetus to the efforts the university was continuing to make to move forward.

Dr Mason was not available for comment.