06/05/2005

Lisburn woman claims unfair dismissal

A Lisburn woman acquitted of the murder of her husband is taking a case of unfair dismissal against her former employers.

Lesley Gault was tried three times for the murder of her husband Paul at their home in May 2000. Gordon Graham was later convicted of beating Mr Gault to death with a hockey stick by a majority of jurors at Omagh Crown Court in October 2004.

Mrs Gault’s former employers at the fire service said her contract ended as she was in prison and unable to fulfil her role as a clerical worker at brigade headquarters in Lisburn.

However, Mrs Gault's solicitor said they should have waited for legal appeals to end.

While the jury could not reach a decision in November 2002 on Mrs Gault’s case, she was later re-tried and convicted by a majority verdict in March 2003. However, in July 2004 an appeal panel quashed that outcome and ordered a re-trial.

Mr Gault, 33, was found bludgeoned to death in an upstairs bedroom of his home in Audley Avenue, Lisburn. The scene initially indicated that Mr Gault had been killed after disturbing a burglar.

Graham, a fireman from The Granary in Ballygowan, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to serve at least 20 years for the murder.

(MB/SP)

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