THE ousted former head of a Gwent race equality group has been reinstated after winning an employment tribunal yesterday.

Dr Mashuq Ally, of Barrack Hill, Newport, lost his job as director of the South East Wales Racial Equality Council in July amid allegations of an "improper personal relationship" with employee Rachel Godwin, and claims that he was "culpable in the bullying and harassment" of another member of staff, Carolyn Halter.

But at a hearing in Cardiff yesterday, tribunal chairman Phil Williams ruled Dr Ally should be placed back on the SEWREC payroll and his contract as director should continue.

Dr Ally's solicitor, Barrie Clarke, told the hearing the allegations against his client were merely a cover-up and Dr Ally had lost his job after making a complaint against SEWREC vice-chairman Kebba Manneh following his refusal to sack Rachel Godwin when instructed.

As Dr Ally had not been in the post for a year, he could not bring a full unfair dismissal hearing.

But yesterday's interim relief hearing ruled he "would succeed", and ordered SEWREC to introduce "contract continuation" for Dr Ally.

SEWREC executive committee member Joyce Steven, head of Newport council's finance and scrutiny department, conducted the investigation into the complaints against Dr Ally.

The hearing was told that in her report, Mrs Steven alleged Dr Ally, a married father of three, was "in pursuit of a personal relationship" with Rachel Godwin.

But under cross-examination by Dr Ally's solicitor, Barrie Clarke, Mrs Steven admitted that she had not asked Rachel Godwin about the allegations.

Mr Clarke accused Mrs Steven of accepting "gossip" as evidence over "first-hand information".

He said: "My suggestion is that you were building a case against Dr Ally." Mrs Steven replied: "That is absolutely incorrect."

Mrs Steven said her main concern had been the allegation Dr Ally bullied and harassed SEWREC employee Carolyn Halter.

Earlier in the hearing, Mr Manneh accused Dr Ally of misleading SEWREC's executive committee over his reasons for attending the court case against boxer Bradley Pryce, who was convicted of causing Ms Godwin actual bodily harm.

Mr Manneh said: "I thought he was trying to hide what he was doing." A further hearing will take place in two months.