Thursday, April 30, 2026 - An army veteran, Morgan Armstrong, has been awarded more than £82,000 after an employment tribunal ruled he was unfairly dismissed from his role as a prison officer due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Armstrong, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked at HMP
Manchester between 2019 and 2023. He was dismissed after taking 98 days off
work linked to his PTSD, despite the condition being recognised as a disability
under UK law.
The tribunal heard that the Prison Service issued
conflicting communications regarding disciplinary action. On more than one
occasion, Armstrong was told he faced formal warnings, but was then given
written confirmation stating no action would be taken.
During proceedings, prison officials argued he appeared
indifferent about his absences. However, Employment Judge Phil Allen rejected
that view, stating his behaviour was consistent with someone suffering from
anxiety, depression and PTSD, particularly while dealing with medication
issues.
The tribunal also found that Armstrong’s condition worsened
after he was assigned duties that negatively impacted his mental health.
Medical reports indicated he was expected to recover with time, but prison
management interpreted his situation as meaning he would never return to work.
It took just two minutes for a decision to dismiss him in
December 2023, and his appeal was later rejected without further assessment of
his ability to return. The tribunal concluded that Armstrong had been unfairly
dismissed, subjected to disability discrimination, and that his employer failed
to make reasonable adjustments.
He was awarded £82,067.62 in total compensation, covering
financial losses, damages, and interest. The judge noted that his employer
“could have been expected to wait longer” for his recovery before taking
action.
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