Victory for diabetes man

A DIABETIC man has won more than £11,000 in compensation after being refused employment because of his disabilities.

James Geary, 56, was offered a job with oil services firm Smith International in July, but was later told he was no longer required because he had informed a manager of his health conditions at a pre- employment meeting.

Mr Geary, of Aberdeen, who wears a hearing aid and is prescribed insulin for type two diabetes, won his payout following a disability discrimination case against the company at an employment tribunal in Aberdeen.

Smith International had denied discriminating against Mr Geary, claiming instead that a decision had been taken not to take on any additional warehouse staff.

But employment tribunal judges ruled evidence from the firm’s managers, Philip Flanagan and Michael Holland, was neither credible nor reliable.