INTERNAL conflict led a company director to conclude that her only course of action was to dismiss an employee, an industrial tribunal has heard. On day three of a tribunal into a claim of unfair dismissal by former Kent Messenger Group employee Amanda Fisher, the KM's director and general manager Geraldine Allinson said she felt she had no option but to terminate Ms Fisher's employment after it became clear she would no longer be able to work alongside her colleagues. The tribunal, chaired by Christiana Hyde, had heard that Ms Fisher joined the Kent Messenger's Larkfield headquarters in 2000 as part of a fast-track programme for new sub-editors. It also heard that she took up a position in the features department as a writer and sub-editor alongside Debbie Eales, Deborah Penn and line manager Andy Rayfield. Ms Fisher made allegations of bullying and harassment against her colleagues, as well as complaints about the training programme she had undertaken. She also received a dead mouse through the internal mail. She was dismissed in June 2004, and claims she was sacked for highlighting problems within the company. In her evidence Geraldine Allinson said the decision to dismiss Ms Fisher was made only after it became clear she would no longer be able to work with Andy Rayfield, Deborah Penn and Debbie Eales. She said that, although other positions within the company were considered, none were suitable as Ms Fisher's experience and training lay in sub-editing and feature writing. She said: "I did not want to part company with any staff but I simply could not see a way for the claimant to return to work without losing Andy Rayfield, Deborah Penn or Debbie Eales. "If any other solution had presented itself I would have been delighted. I was forced into taking this very difficult decision." The tribunal also heard evidence from the Kent Messenger's editorial director Simon Irwin, who said he became involved when Ms Fisher approached him about perceived failings in her training programme, run by editorial training manager Neil Webber. Difficulties developed between Ms Fisher and Mr Webber after she claimed he had failed to give her a logbook to fill in for her qualification in good time. Mr Irwin also said that Ms Fisher had claimed she was promised her pay would be backdated to the time her first logbook was handed in. When she had to resubmit her logbook, her pay was only backdated to the new submission. Ms Fisher disputed this decision. Mr Irwin said he was approached by Andy Rayfield, who said Ms Fisher was having problems with news editor Deborah Penn. "Generally, that they disliked each other and that the claimant appeared to resent Deborah Penn's authority," he said. Mr Irwin said he was concerned to hear, at a later date, that Ms Fisher was off sick with stress. He said that, during her time off, she applied for the position of business reporter. He told her she could not be considered because she would be reporting directly to Andy Rayfield. Ms Fisher claims she was the victim of a bullying campaign but Mr Irwin insisted that he did not, and would not, tolerate bullying within the company. The Kent Messenger continues to deny all Ms Fisher's claims. The tribunal is expected to continue for another 14 days.