Dismissal of former policewoman from Home for girls found unjustified

Former policewoman Marisa Bartolo was today awarded compensation of €3,900 by an Industrial Tribunal after it ruled that she was unfairly dismissed from her employment as a home programme co-ordinator at Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja. However the tribunal ruled that reinstatement would not be practical. Bartolo had filed her case against Dolores Cristina, then Minister of Education and Social Wlefare. She had previously also filed a court case against the minister and had requested the court to stop the minister from sacking her amid allegations of abuse. She was however dismissed on July 31 of 2010. Prior to the dismissal, the minister informed board chairman Richard Manchè that there had been allegations by the residents against Ms Bartolo and a board of inquiry was to be set-up.  The board of inquiry had concluded that "Mrs Marisa Bartolo's training and extensive experience in the police force have formed her and conditioned her behaviour to date. More than 12 months of direction from the homes director, role modelling and feedback from the other members of staff have not yielded the desired changes. Her position with the Conservatorio set-up is,...