A SCHOOL escort from Flintshire who ‘tapped’ a special needs child in her care says she is devastated after losing a claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal.
Margaret Parsons, 72, said the experience had ‘ruined her life’, claiming all she had intended to do was stop the child fighting with his brother.
At a tribunal in Abergele, Judge John Thomas ruled Miss Parsons had been fairly dismissed by Flintshire Council but recognised that she had been a ‘victim of her own honesty’.
Miss Parsons, of Ffordd Pennant, Mold, worked for 13 years as a school escort which involved accompanying special needs children to and from school in a taxi or minibus in the Flintshire area.
In November the mother of the special needs child made a complaint that Miss Parsons had struck her child with a shoe, but this was later dismissed.
It was only during this investigation it was discovered Miss Parsons had admitted ‘tapping’ the same child in October to stop him fighting with his brother.
Speaking after the hearing, Miss Parsons said: “I was honest and told the mother.
“After 13 years service I never had a blemish on my career.
“I didn’t slap him, I just went forward and put his hands on his knees.
“If I had taken him home to his mother and his face was all marked what would she say?
“I was there to protect the children and did it for 13 years.”
She added: “I know they have ruined the rest of my life.”
Miss Parsons said she has never married because she has had to care for her 79-year-old autistic brother George and previously for her parents.
Judge Thomas said: “We think that Miss Parsons is an honest person and has fallen below her own standards on this occasion.
“The local authority must have a line of protection for children which cannot be breached or stepped over.”
Judge Thomas did acknowledge Miss Parsons for her work and said: “She has lived a life of great service and sacrifice, not only to different children in the local authority but to her own family.”