University settles sexual harassment case minutes before hearing

Elizabeth McGonigle, the former events manager at the university where Prince William is currently studying, had been expected to confront Principal Dr Brian Lang at yesterday’s scheduled hearing about a series of allegations she has made against him.

But, six minutes after the hearing had been due to begin, the university’s counsel told Colin Milne, the tribunal chairman and president of the employment tribunal service in Scotland, that the case would not be proceeding.

Ian Truscott QC told Mr Milne: "I am pleased to say that a settlement has been reached between the parties, but there are some details that have to be worked out."

Asked by Mr Milne if a settlement could be guaranteed, Mr Truscott said that the only matter to be resolved was a "form of words".

Mrs McGonigle, 37, of Marketgate North, Crail, resigned from her 20,000-a-year post last September after being suspended for alleged gross misconduct. She declined to comment as she left the tribunal building.

Dr Lang, 55, leaving the tribunal moments later accompanied by his lawyer, said: "I have nothing to say."

Papers lodged with the tribunal on Mrs McGonigle’s behalf had alleged that Dr Lang, who was appointed principal of Scotland’s oldest university in January of last year, had a "distasteful and unwelcome" habit of stroking her back and made lurid suggestions about her apparent lack of underwear.

Mrs McGonigle also accused Dr Lang of drinking excessively at official university functions and alleged that he had asked her to "cover up" his late arrival at a function after he had allegedly been interviewed by the police. She further claimed that Dr Lang had been accused of bullying and sexual harassment in his previous post as chief executive of the British Library.

She had been seeking compensation claiming unfair dismissal and breaches of the sexual discrimination and working time directive legislation.

Mrs McGonigle made similar claims against Dr Lang last September in a three-page statement which she submitted to the university authorities before she quit her post, accusing the principal of sexual harassment, bullying and improper use of university funds.

In her statement, she claimed that she had been left feeling "uncomfortable and humiliated" after encounters with Dr Lang.

The allegations were strenuously refuted by the principal. In a letter distributed last summer to staff at the university, Dr Lang stated: "I have never bullied, harassed - sexually or otherwise - or intimidated any member of staff.

"I can confirm, however, that the performance of the member of staff who has made allegations against me has been subject to review since June this year, following a number of internal and external complaints about unsatisfactory standards of work."

An internal investigation by the University Court at St Andrews found that Dr Lang had no case to answer in relation to the allegations which Mrs McGonigle had made against him.

A spokeswoman for Mrs McGonigle’s Dundee-based solicitors said a statement would be issued on her behalf "in due course".

A spokeswoman for St Andrews University said: "The university will not be commenting today but may issue a statement in due course."