A former council manager who was sacked after she developed PTSD from helping Grenfell victims has spoken out about the trauma of seeing her “world collapse” during a six-year legal battle.
Rachael Wright-Turner, 52, was awarded a record-breaking £4.6 million payout from Hammersmith and Fulham Council over her dismissal in 2018 while she was on sick leave.
She was previously employed by Kensington and Chelsea Council and helped those affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster, and developed post-traumatic stress disorder after switching to a role in the neighbouring council.
Central London Employment Tribunal heard that Ms Wright-Turner, a director of public service reform at Hammersmith and Fulham, was accused of incompetence and excess alcohol consumption – allegations that were not upheld.
The tribunal found that senior officers in the authority had lied in evidence.
She was awarded the seven-figure payout for disability discrimination and harassment, after telling the tribunal how her mental health has been “devastated”, her marriage broke down, and her children were forced to leave their school.
Speaking about the “horrible” case for the first time, Ms Wright-Turner said the protracted legal battle caused her “world to collapse”.
“It is so humiliating to phone-up friends and beg them for money for legal costs. I borrowed £450,000 from my mother meaning she had to remortgage her house”, she said.
“I will never be able to return to my former career. These damages include past earnings, and future losses to retirement age.”
The council has apologised for the treatment of Ms Wright-Turner, but has said it intends to appeal the level of compensation payout, calling it “excessive”.
