AN EMPLOYMENT tribunal in which a journalist claims she was sent a dead mouse in the internal post at work, closed this week to consider its verdict.

Amanda Fisher, a former employee of the Kent Messenger Group, launched her claim for unfair dismissal against the company at the tribunal in Ashford on May 4.

Ms Fisher, who worked for the company as a writer and sub-editor, claims that she was dismissed because she had raised concerns about a professional sub editor’s training programme and over health and safety issues.

Ms Fisher, of Selling, near Faversham, a former freelance TV producer and director who joined the company in August 2000, claims she was the victim of a prolonged campaign of bullying and harassment at the hands of management and senior colleagues.

She also says she received the freshly-killed dead mouse in the internal mail in March 2003.

She removed herself from the workplace in July 2003 suffering from stress, but was dismissed in June 2004, she claims, without explanation.

The Kent Messenger Group denies all her claims.

The tribunal, chaired by Christiana Hyde, has spent three weeks hearing evidence from both sides in the case.

On Wednesday the bench received final written submissions from barrister Tony Bertin, representing the claimant, Ms Fisher, and from Ian Wright, representing the respondent, the Kent Messenger Group.

Each side now has until June 10 to make short submissions to the bench in response to the others’ claims, if so advised.

Members of the tribunal are expected to their final judgement on or after June 16. Ms Fisher is seeking re-instatement.