THE father of murdered student Amanda Duffy was accused of sexually assaulting a worker at a charity he ran to help victims' families, a tribunal has heard.

Joe Duffy faced allegations of attacking the woman who worked at Petal (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss), a group which helps people affected by murder or suicide, but the claim was later rescinded.
He was also investigated for "financial irregularities" amid concern he had misused funds at the Hamilton-based charity.

The claims were raised at an employment tribunal in the case of Ann Marie Cocozza - another former employee at the charity who claims she tried to kill herself after being bullied by Mr Duffy.

Ms Cocozza, of Hamilton, is suing the charity for unfair dismissal, claiming she was sacked after disclosing information about Mr Duffy, who was also later dismissed.

The charity argues Ms Cocozza's dismissal was down to a restructure and lack of funding.

The tribunal in Glasgow yesterday heard evidence from Petal chief executive Neil Moore, who was the group's chairman at the time of Ms Cocozza's dismissal.

Mr Moore told how, following unsuccessful grievances by Ms Cocozza, he received a letter from her solicitor containing a statement from another worker, re-raising allegations of sexual assault which had already been investigated by management.

Solicitor Raymond Brown, representing Ms Cocozza, put it to Mr Moore that the statement highlighted that there had been a sexual assault and there had been "some concealment" of the matter.

Mr Moore said: "No, I wouldn't agree with that."

Mr Brown then said: "The letter states that 'during the meeting I was asked to sign an agreement not to speak about what had happened'. That would allege that there was some form of concealment?"
Mr Moore replied: "That's what it says but that's not the truth."

Asked if the woman agreed the letter had been written by her, Mr Moore replied: "[No], she said Ann Marie had spoken to her, discussing the allegations, and Ann Marie constructed this letter and told her that I had said it was okay for her to do this, coercing her, basically."

The chief executive went on to say that the statement was "irrelevant" to Ms Cocozza's case.

When asked why, he replied: "At that particular time there was nothing proven, it was an allegation that was rescinded and from that time onward there had been no other allegations of anything else untoward against Mr Duffy."

Mr Brown asked if the woman said the allegation was untrue. Mr Moore replied: "She said 'that's not the way it happened'."

Mr Brown said: "Did she describe to you Mr Duffy coming towards her, his right hand moving towards the front of her trousers and she used a lever arch file to move him away?"
Mr Moore replied: "No, she didn't."

The tribunal heard Ms Cocozza, a former project co-ordinator with the charity, was due to take over from Mr Duffy as project director but was dismissed in March last year after he decided not to retire.

Mr Moore explained that at the time of her dismissal, Mr Duffy was suspended over allegations of "intemperate behaviour" towards another member of staff.

Mr Brown asked if he was also being investigated for fraud. Mr Moore replied that there was an investigation into potential "financial misuse".

The manager also told the tribunal that Ms Cocozza was "pretty manic" about the way she had been treated.

He added: "She was chasing down Mr Duffy in any way she could to try and get back at him."
The tribunal continues.