A TEACHER who has been suspended on full pay for nearly six years despite being cleared of child abuse allegations went to the Court of Appeal this week to win back his job.

Woodhey High School teacher Anthony McNally is appealing against an earlier court ruling to reopen an investigation into the alleged incident which dates back to 1995.

The hearing took place on Tuesday (Feb 13) and the appeal judges have reserved judgment.

Mr McNally, who lives in Tottington, was suspended in 1995 after the parents of a 15-year-old boy at the Ramsbottom school accused him of "inappropriate touching". After an inquiry he was cleared by the school's board of governors and no action was taken by the police. He was reinstated in 1996 but one month later he was again suspended after Bury's child protection committee expressed "serious concerns".

Bury education authority sought to have Mr McNally barred from teaching by approaching the then Secretary of State for Education Gillian Shephard. She refused to intervene. But in March 1999 her successor, David Blunkett said he would direct the school governors to reopen the case.

But Mr McNally with the support of his union, the NAS/UWT went to the High Court to have that decision overturned claiming there was no new evidence which justified the case being re-examined. The court ruled that Mr Blunkett did have the power to intervene in the case, a decision which Mr McNally is seeking to have overturned.

However, in a further twist, Mr McNally was brought in for questioning in September of last year following fresh allegations dating back to before 1995. A thorough police investigation was carried out although the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to support a prosecution.