A Very Sordid Affair

Jennifer Matthys: Too intimidated to attend tribunal

The BNP v Marion Thomas employment tribunal held in Belfast finished just before 4pm today.

Everyone who observed the proceedings agreed that tension, bitterness and hatred lay thick in the air like a poisonous cloud. Patrick Harrington, the BNP's legal advisor, who earlier did not want to discuss Marion Thomas's allegations of being held against her will by officers of the BNP, chose to return to that very subject for the afternoon's session.

What transpired is that the BNP exchanged £7,500 in cash for what appears to be their membership database and server in a Tesco's car park in Northern Ireland. Local newspapers tomorrow will lead on this and also Adam Walker's alleged description of the town of Comber being like a "dump".

Harrington, the former NF leader had to be helped with procedure by the chair of the panel, but managed to confuse the complainant Marion Thomas nearly as much as he confused himself. The key question remains was Marion Thomas held against her will by three agitated BNP members who were exchanging cash for property ?

Another allegation made by Thomas is that the BNP treasurer Clive Jefferson helped himself to £200 because of his "inconvenience" at having to allegedly hold her against her will. Or did he give it to Ian Kitchen?

On a number of occasions Thomas's legal representative queried Harrington's line of questioning. Harrington contends that Thomas was only employed by the BNP for six months and therefore can claim neither unfair dismissal or claim for redundancy pay.

As we have reported before, there appeared to be no love lost between Marion Thomas and Jennifer Matthys, daughter of the BNP leader Nick Griffin. Jennifer has refused to attend the hearing saying that she feels intimidated.

Tomorrow should be fun if not a little uncomfortable for one BNP witness.

Hope not hate