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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Steven Morris and agency

RAF veteran wrongly believed to be gay loses employment tribunal over 1975 discharge

Cpl Sean Walsh during his RAF career
Cpl Sean Walsh, now 75, was given a dishonourable discharge from the RAF in 1975. Photograph: Solent News & Photo Agency

An RAF veteran has lost what is believed to be one of the oldest employment tribunals ever brought after he tried to sue the Ministry of Defence for forcing him out because he was wrongly believed to be gay.

Cpl Sean Walsh launched the lawsuit over his discharge from the air force almost 50 years ago, describing the treatment he received as degrading and humiliating.

Walsh, 75, claims he was discriminated against when he was ordered to leave in 1975 after 12 years of service. At the time, there was a ban on gay people serving in the armed forces.

However, 48 years on, Walsh has lost his discrimination case after the tribunal ruled it did not have jurisdiction because what happened to Walsh was lawful at the time.

Sean Walsh, now 75, wearing his RAF Parachute Rescue Medical Team tie
Sean Walsh said the treatment he received was ‘extremely degrading and humiliating’. Photograph: Solent News & Photo Agency
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