A former nurse has been awarded €208,000 after it was proven in court that he was unfairly dismissed.

Mario Gerada claimed that on April 2, 2008, he had been informed that he was being fired from Zammit Clapp Hospital where he was employed as a casual nurse.

He was never given any reasons for the termination and was not given a chance to defend himself.

Subsequently, the Chief Government Medical Officer told the Employment and Training Corporation that Mr Gerada had resigned and not that his job was terminated.

In their response, the CGMO and the director general health care services argued that Mr Gerada’s job was terminated because he was not giving patients the desired service to the detriment of their health.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Silvio Meli condemned the CGMO’s behaviour in declaring that an employee who was fired had resigned.

Such falsification of truth should be harshly condemned and those in charge should take the necessary action to penalise those responsible for it and ensure this did not happen again to ensure the trustworthiness of all public documents.

This was essential for the assurance of a transparent public service that is really serious.

Mr Gerada argued that this happened in 2008 when he was 52 and he could only r tire when he was 63, so he had 11 more working years.

As his annual wage was €18,000 he should be awarded €198,000, he claimed

Mr Justice Meli upheld his request and awarded him another €10,000 for psychological consequences and humiliation.

Dr Robert Abela appeared for Mr Gerada.