RACE TO VICTORY
Former athletics star Yvonne wins council payout over breakdown
RUNNING legend Yvonne Murray-Mooney has won a cash payout after settling a personal injury case against her former council bosses.
The 52-year-old began legal proceedings against North Lanarkshire Council, claiming they drove her to a breakdown five years ago through over-work.
Former track star Yvonne had been employed as a senior athletics development officer.
The case has been settled out of court, with undisclosed damages paid to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist.
Yvonne confirmed the news on her Facebook page, with a picture of three champagne glasses.
It was captioned: “Celebrating the fact that my personal injury legal case against North Lanarkshire Leisure has been settled out of court.”
Yvonne launched the claim after becoming frustrated with the pace of an industrial tribunal launched in 2014.
She claimed unfair dismissal after North Lanarkshire Council terminated her contract following a prolonged illness.
She blamed her working conditions for making her ill.
Yvonne’s job with the council involved nurturing young athletes of the future at the Time Capsule in Coatbridge and other sports venues in the area.
She was hospitalised in 2012 after suffering from stress and anxiety.
At the time, her mum Mary Furnell said the athlete had been working 86 hours a week.
Mary claimed the illness was “down to the stress at work”.
Well-wishers congratulated Yvonne on settling the case.
Tom Mctaggart said: “Well done, Yvonne. Not before time.”
Sylvia Tracey posted: “Congratulations sis, so pleased for you all. Now time to celebrate.”
Yvonne, who was born in Musselburgh, East Lothian, won a bronze medal in the 3000m at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a gold at 10,000m in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.
She was awarded an MBE in 1990 and inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
A North Lanarkshire Leisure spokesman confirmed the case had been settled and declined to comment further.