A CHARITY volunteer at the centre of a Town Hall smear row has been told his legal battle to see secret papers could collapse – because he owes the council £590 in court fees.
Campaigner Barry Sullivan wants Camden Council to release every document and email held at the Town Hall relating to him and his work as manager of Camden Town Neighbourhood Advice Centre. His request came after the discovery of a secret chain of emails between council staff accusing the 56-year-old of fraud and drug dealing. None of the claims has ever been substantiated.
Although it is now more than a year since the smear files came to light, the council has so far only released some of the documents requested. Lawyers were at the London County Court in Regent’s Park on Friday to defend their position.
A bundle of papers stored in a ring binder will now be sent to a district judge who will decide in January whether they should be disclosed to Mr Sullivan.
But council lawyer Hamilton Daley asked for the case to be referred to the Information Charities as adjudicators. This move is based on an unpaid £590 fee imposed by the court earlier this year when Mr Sullivan failed in a bid to force Borough Solicitor Alison Lowton to attend court.
The council’s new application will be considered in January when Mr Sullivan, who has offered to pay the debt at £20 a week, will learn the fate of his legal action.