Image shows mallow and vetch on the wayside by Bury St Edmunds Tribunal.
There is one more day of cross-examination on Monday 22 June. The witnesses include the Vice Chancellor, Prof Deborah Prentice. It is the last day in Bury St Edmunds for me and my legal team.
The barristers will present their closing submissions on Friday 26 June. This is done remotely. It can be followed via CVP.
Employment Judge Graham and his two panel members will take some time to evaluate the evidence and come to a judgement. The panel are deciding on two specific questions: did Prof Wyn Evans make a series of protected (or whistleblowing) disclosures, and (if so) was there retaliation against him by some or all of the Respondents.
The judgment is not expected until September 2026, or later.
Thank you for all the comments and emails.
Any comment on the blog that has been held back will be released after Friday 26 June 2026 at the end of the public hearing. This is so as to ensure legal compliance.
If a comment is embargoed for the moment, please be patient. Your voice will be heard
11 Comments
Xerxes · 21 June 2026 at 09:37
“A Cambridge University employment tribunal is unraveling a shocking saga of institutional cover-ups and toxic leadership at the Institute of Astronomy, where accusations of misogyny and bullying have led to a female scientist’s psychological collapse — and a director’s desperate bid to deflect blame. Professor Richard McMahon, facing claims he acted “wickedly” by weaponizing a colleague’s distress, instead launched a retaliatory smear campaign against whistleblowers who exposed the culture of fear. Despite his grievances being dismissed without evidence, McMahon continues to fight — even blaming his own words on a bad GCSE English grade — while the whistleblower, Professor Wyn Evans, who once championed anti-bullying, now stands vindicated after settling a defamation case. Dr. Tausch-Pebody, the victim at the heart of it all, has publicly thanked Evans for his courage — as the university’s silence grows louder.”
This is from Daily News Now . It’s obviously been a huge PR disaster.
newsfeed · 21 June 2026 at 09:53
Do you have the link?
TheResearcher · 21 June 2026 at 10:33
They produced 3 podcasts, “Cambridge Astronomy Whistleblower Case” “Cambridge Astronomy Scandal Deepens” and “Cambridge Astronomy Toxicity Trial.” I reckon there will be more…
Only a blind could not see the impact that this case would have but those who are responsible for addressing reputation risk, namely the Council, have been on leave 😉
R · 21 June 2026 at 09:41
I have watched this most days. I retired from the University and had direct experience of many of the witnesses during my career there. I have been deeply disappointed to see the ways in which some witnesses have performed verbal contortions to try ro justify and normalise sustained and wholly unacceptable behaviour in any workplace.
ZZ · 21 June 2026 at 10:16
Agreed, one witness, loudly proclaiming her “independence”, had to be asked the same question four times, without ever answering
I think the panel notice these things.
TheResearcher · 21 June 2026 at 10:43
Very true. I would put it like this: Not only this witness evaded the same critical question 4 times but then decided to highlight that she has a track record of “independence” when acting as “Responsible Person” and showed ZERO evidence to support that claim as if her word alone was sufficient. The fact she is a lawyer and was clearly very nervous in an environment she should be very used to, more than any other witness who was cross examined, is telling.
TheResearcher · 21 June 2026 at 11:49
An interesting article about Prof. Deborah Prentice as manager:
https://unherd.com/newsroom/meet-cambridges-lockdown-loving-new-vice-chancellor/?utm_source=perplexity
“Speaking to UnHerd, Arif Ahmed said that Cambridge’s governing body had ensured “there can be no compromise whatsoever on our fundamental values of free speech and academic freedom for all our students and staff. I am sure Prof. Prentice understands these points and I wish her all the best.”
calamitybear · 21 June 2026 at 11:59
She’s even worse than Toope & he was very bad. And she’s more expensive. The only good thing she’s done is dismiss Rampton
MUSKETEER · 21 June 2026 at 13:35
She did not dismiss Rampton! She lauded her! Go and look!!! £570,000 per year buys complicity!
Peter · 21 June 2026 at 14:58
Thanks 21pcg for the clarification that Professor Evans
is not a Whistleblower yet since the ET will make a judgement on this.
21percent.org · 21 June 2026 at 15:07
An investigation by an external barrister hired by the University concluded Prof Evans’ disclosures were whistleblowing
The matter is now being reconsidered by the Employment Tribunal.