Judge describes Scottish & Southern Energy's case against sacked electrician as 'fanciful bordering on paranoid'
The case to bring an injunction against a worker under terrorism legislation to stop him protesting at a site has been thrown out.
Scottish & Southern Energy had applied for an injunction against Steve Acheson under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, to prevent him protesting at Fiddlers Ferry power station in Cheshire, after he was dismissed from the project.
Acheson was one of more than 3,000 workers whose name appeared on the illegal blacklist used by over 40 major construction firms, uncovered by the Information Commissioner's Office earlier this year.
Scottish & Southern Energy had claimed the electrician's actions were a potential threat to the national grid and national security.
But the case was thrown out yesterday, and during his summary Justice Mann is said to have described the legal case as “fanciful bordering on paranoid”.
The dispute at the power station started in December 2008, when Steve Acheson was dismissed from the project.
Acheson complained that he was deliberately being victimised because he was an active trade union member, and began to picket the site to regain his job. He claimed he had been blacklisted from the site.
Speaking after the hearing, Acheson said: “This is a defeat for corporate bullies. A victory for peaceful protest. Tomorrow I will be back at Fiddlers Ferry, fighting the blacklist and fighting to get my job back.”
Full costs were awarded against Scottish & Southern Energy.
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