Blogger hits back at James and Dole

THE OUTBURSTS by Council Leader Emlyn Dole and soon-to-depart CEO Mark James against efforts made by bloggers and media to hold the County Council to account (see last week’s Herald) have received a stinging response from local blogger Jacqui Thompson.
To describe Mr James and Mrs Thompson as ‘having form’ understates the level of dislike and mistrust between the pair.
Mr James was sued for libel by Mrs Thompson, an action in which he made an offer to settle before Mr James’ employers stumped up an unlawful indemnity in respect of his legal fees. Mr James won that action but the cost to the Council’s reputation was immeasurably more than the sum the Court awarded him in damages. Particularly as the case was accompanied by the scandal of the Executive Board permitting its most senior employee to enter into a tax avoidance scheme in relation to his public sector pension.
Mr James’ subsequent repudiation of his agreement to repay the Council in respect of the unlawful indemnity, saying through his barrister that he could throw the £35,000 in the gutter if he so wished arguably demonstrated Mr James’ status as ‘untouchable’. Even efforts by some councillors to persuade the CEO to compromise his position and reach an accommodation about the unlawful indemnity was howled down by the Council’s Head of Legal, a witness in Mr James’ libel case.
And all that came after a former independent external member of the Council’s Audit Committee slated the quality of the Council’s internal legal advice and processes.
Mr James attempted to have Mrs Thompson prosecuted for harassment, only for the case to collapse embarrassingly when it went before the Magistrates’ Court in Llanelli.
Mrs Thompson has consistently alleged that Mr James has exploited his position as Council CEO to use public facilities to pursue what is – at law – a private matter between individuals.
In her letter to Mr James, which Jacqui Thompson copied to Council Leader Emlyn Dole, she vigorously hammers away at both men.
Due to its content, The Herald has edited the letter, but what we are able to publish is below.
A FOND FAREWELL
Dear Mr James,
Your remarks about bloggers at Wednesday’s AGM require this brief response, which will also be published on my blog.
As there are not many bloggers, or “keyboard warriors” about, and, as you have actually met me, albeit in a courtroom, the consensus of opinion is that you were including me in your comment. As was Emlyn Dole.
I am not anonymous, far from it as you are well aware, and neither do I hide away in dark corners, and I’m quite capable of speaking my name. There is nothing I have said on my blog which I wouldn’t say directly to you, or anyone else, in an instant. If you wish to try and argue over anything I’ve said, then do get in touch.
It was me who called you out and went through a public trial; you hid behind the taxpayer to make your attack, also calling on them to fund your first class travel and upmarket hotels.
You didn’t even have the bottle to attend Carmarthen County Court and face me while you attempted to take my home, you hid.
The taxpayer had already funded your legal costs once, and your unlawful tax avoidance scam. I wouldn’t put anything past you. I represented myself and was quite capable of saying a lot more than my name.
It is you who have hidden, Mr James, behind your puppet councillors, your legal department, your money, and your junior staff.
Urging councillors, or anyone, to ignore the press and public opinion is appalling but has been a trademark of your regime, and councillors who have toed the line have been rewarded. Those who have not have been bullied and treated with contempt.
You have withdrawn support for local newspapers for publishing negative stories and enabled, unlawfully, for the council to sue. And more.
You do not ignore the press or blogs as you claim, you just get someone else to read it all for you, at public expense. If it was all so unimportant then why did you refer to it all in your farewell speech?
I do not have time on my hands, we work hard to ensure we can live and that you get your monthly ‘gutter’ money so that you do not take our home. The time I do have I spend unearthing the facts and the truth which you are so reluctant to impart. And as I said, I will continue to hold you to account for your actions at this council, retired or not. You have not heard the last from this particular ‘anonymous’ blogger.
You will certainly be remembered Mr James, not as a man of vision, nor even one with a ridiculous Honour, but as the man who trashed the reputation of Carmarthenshire County Council, and Private Eye’s Rotten Boroughs ‘Shit of the Year’.