A BOWLING club barmaid who was fired after allegedly assaulting a club member at a social event has won her unfair dismissal case.

Mary MacDonald, 62, who worked part-time at the Vale of Leven Bowling Club in Alexandria for 10 years, was booted out after a behind-closed-doors club meeting regarding the row with the club member on January 16.

He accused Mrs MacDonald, who on a previous occasion had refused to serve the complainer and his brother alcohol because of new drink licensing laws, of double standards.

He asked Mrs MacDonald, who was at the club as a guest with her family that evening, why there was a 14-year-old girl at her table when there was a no children rule at the premises.

An employment tribunal was told that the club member said at the social event: "Is it only [my] family you pick on?" The man claimed Mrs MacDonald assaulted him, but she denied this.

After an emergency meeting of the club at which the complainer was present, but Mrs MacDonald was unable to attend because she was not a member, she was banned from the premises for a year and effectively sacked.

She was told she could not work as a result of the ban and that her actions amounted to "gross misconduct".

A subsequent appeal was refused.

Vale of Leven Bowling Club said the main reason for her dismissal was her conduct, which took place on work premises, even though she was not working at the time.

Mrs MacDonald, of Manse Road, Balloch, claimed she had been unfairly dismissed by the club and was awarded £3,326.43 after winning her case at an employment tribunal in Glasgow.

In a written judgement, employment judge Muriel Robison said: "No grievance or meeting or disciplinary hearing was held.

"Mrs MacDonald was not informed of what she was being accused of doing, she was given no opportunity to put her own case.

"She was given no opportunity to be accompanied at a disciplinary hearing before a decision about her employment was made." Clarification This story has appeared in this week's Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter with a factual inaccuracy.

In the story printed, the club referred to is Vale of Leven Golf Club.

We are pleased to clarify that it was not Vale of Leven Golf Club but Vale of Leven Bowling Club which was involved in the case.

Vale of Leven Golf Club has no association with the case in question.

The report of the employment tribunal, with the incorrect details, was supplied by a third party and was printed in the Reporter in good faith.