[copy of letter]  back

BHRC
Dear Sirs

Re:    Professor Jack Dowie.

We have been instructed by the above named and we write to register our concerns relating to his current suspension.   

There are three particular areas which give cause for concern and they are as follows :-

1.            You have not specified which rule our client is alleged to have broken;

2.            You have not specified the nature and extent of any allegations against him.  You invited him to attend a meeting of the BHRC Committee in order to explain the contents of a letter that he had written.  The contents of that letter in our opinion are very clear but our client offered to respond to questions put in writing. If the Committee requires the contents of the letter to be explained it is difficult to understand how they felt themselves in a position to take the action they have;

3.            The procedure that you have followed in suspending our client is against the rules of the BHRC, natural justice and the Human Rights Act 1998.  You did not advise our client in the letter that you sent to him inviting him to the Committee meeting that his non attendance would lead to his suspension.  We understand that although Mr William Green attended the Council meeting he declined to answer questions regarding the letter and therefore it seems from this, and from your letter, that our client’s suspension has resulted simply from him not appearing at the Committee meeting.

We would hope that you agree that a meeting of the BHRC Committee is not the proper forum to rule on allegations of misconduct.  The proper forum, in our view, would be a properly constituted and independent BHRC enquiry.

We do not believe that you have the right to suspend our client in this way and we would urge you to revoke the suspension immediately.

Since licence suspension represents a slur on his rights and reputation throughout the harness racing world, as well as in his own profession, he reserves the right to seek extensive damages in relation to your action.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

John Cook, Employment Partner
SASlawyers  30 Greek Street  Stockport  SK3 8AD

24 December 2002

Cc W.Green; Jacques Chartier, UET; John Voskamp NDR;  Rod Pollock, ITA, Matti Lakkisto, ITA