Herald on Sunday journalist asks for job back

A Herald on Sunday assistant editor who was sacked last year has told an employment hearing he wants his job back.

Stephen Cook told Employment Relations Authority (ERA) member Rosemary Monaghan in Auckland today he wanted to return to the newspaper - despite saying at the start of the hearing on Friday that a return would be "unrealistic".

Cook is arguing he was unjustifiably dismissed toward the end of last year .

He denies allegations he was selling the drug P in the newspaper's toilets, and that he was connected with the Head Hunters gang.

Ms Monaghan said Cook's request for job reinstatement was unusual considering no prior indications had been made.

Herald on Sunday editor Shayne Currie , who was not at the hearing, gave evidence via telephone.

Currie said he still had the same number of staff but the duties were divided differently.

He had a "complete and utter loss of confidence" in Cook, he said.

"I cannot have a staff member who was unwilling to tell me what story he's working on and refused to hand over his notes on request.

"There has been a lot of anger to Stephen Cook in the newsroom ," Currie said.

He said Cook had done his utmost to damage the Herald on Sunday's reputation, and last Thursday had threatened to "drop a bombshell".

Currie also said Cook had released struck-out evidence to the media.

Cook told the hearing he shared the role of assistant editor with another employee and contributed many ideas to the newsroom.

"The chief reporter's role doesn't cover the tasks I used to perform. I made quite a significant contribution to the paper.

"I reject that I sought to cause damage to the Herald on Sunday. I tried to get on with my life as much as possible after losing my career.

"The damage to my career and my reputation as a result of the rumours and gossip circulating has been far more significant," Cook said.

He said his comment about "dropping a bombshell" on the newspaper was a throw-away remark.

"I was upset after hearing that the Herald on Sunday was going to put me in my place. But that wasn't directly attributed to Mr Currie."

He said he did not know how the struck-out evidence got circulated, although he admitted showing it to close journalist friends.

Cook said he'd had time to reflect on his situation over the weekend.

"I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. Let's all be adults and move on."

He rejected the suggestion by Currie that there was a lot of anger directed toward him in the newsroom.

Geoff Bevan, representing the Herald on Sunday, told Cook that a letter from his lawyer Chris Comeskey on November 11 last year had said a return to the Herald on Sunday was untenable.

Mr Bevan said another staff member at the newspaper would have to leave if Cook returned.

Cook told the hearing he had got his licence to work as a private investigator in April, and had been doing some unpaid work for Mr Comeskey.

Representing Cook today, Andrew Comeskey (correct) said the dismissal was unjustified and the reasons for it were not made clear to him.

"It was simply stated that there was a loss of trust and confidence, but this was never substantiated.

"He ought to be justifiably reinstated and if that is unlikely, other remedies ought to be put in place."

Ms Monaghan reserved her decision, which is expected in about three months.

- NZPA