Education complaint evidence 'destroyed'

VITAL evidence that could have cleared or condemned former director of Education Derek Neale over complaints about his management style may have been destroyed.

Soon after quitting as Education minister, Carol Steere used her then position as a deputy to ask written questions of the Scrutiny Committee to try and uncover more about a secret interview that happened with a former Education employee in 2005.

She submitted the questions after an article in the Guernsey Press reported that a confidential hearing took place to look at information that had resurfaced when Scrutiny was reviewing States complaints procedures.

The information related to complaints against Mr Neale, pictured, and how they were dealt with.

Scrutiny has maintained its silence on what the hearing was about - except to say that it raised 'significant issues concerning whistle-blowing' - but stated that the 'protected evidence' and the guidance likely to have been given by the Law Officers about it could no longer be found.