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Auditing firm, KPMG, has been challenged to reveal the findings of its investigation into the decision by Cheltenham BC to sue its former managing director. Christine Laird called for the report to be made public after losing her High Court appeal against costs. The court had already rejected claims by the council that Mrs Laird had lied during the application process for the job. It set legal precedent, but the judge also rejected her claim for compensation, and ruled she would have to share costs. Mrs Laird warned she would face bankruptcy as a result, and had appealed against that part of the judge's decision. But she was told at the Court of Appeal last week she would have to meet the costs awarded against her, despite winning the case brought against her by the council. Hugh Laird, her husband, called for the council to be held to account for the decision to mount the legal challenge. ‘It was Cheltenham BC which started this vindictive action,' he said. ‘We now look forward to the full auditor's report, which we feel should be published now. KPMG is investigating who took the decisions to haul Christine, a mentally ill person, through the courts – and cost Cheltenham taxpayers dear.' Mr Laird also expressed dismay at the costs decision. ‘We are disappointed with the result of today's Court of Appeal hearing. We felt the original finding on costs, which left us facing a huge bill, was unjust,' he said. ‘We also feel that today's outcome is unfair, as we would have won if the legal rules hadn't changed in April last year. But this result does not change the fact that Christine won the case.'

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Call to go public over Cheltenham findings

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