Steven O’Mahony was dismissed in May 2006 after he had become a direct employee of the council.

Despite losing an initial employment tribunal in November 2006 and being instructed to reinstate Mr O’Mahony, the council refused to follow the tribunal’s direction, Ucatt said.

At a further employment tribunal held in November, the tribunal again found against the council, judged their actions to have been “cavalier” and ordered them to pay Mr O’Mahony £66,821, according to the union.

Brian Rye, Ucatt eastern region, regional secretary, said: “Ucatt officials had gone to great lengths to persuade council officers that this dismissal was wrong, the decision of council officers to ignore that advice and the rulings of the Employment Tribunal has cost Harlow Council taxpayers dearly.”