A PRIMARY school teacher, fired after being accused of sending a spate of poison pen letters, says she wants to get on with her life after reaching an out-of-court settlement at her industrial tribunal.

Margaret Tasker, aged 52, was sacked from Cinnamon Brow CE Primary School for allegedly running a hate campaign about the school via a series of e-mails.

Critical letters were posted to members of staff and other schools in the neighbourhood in June 2001.

But Tasker, who had worked at the school since 1982, denied any part in the affair and claimed unfair dismissal.

The NASUWT member claimed she had been victimised over her trades' union membership.

Mrs Tasker was suspected of sending the hate mail and was suspended in July 2002.

Police took her fingerprints and the letters were checked for forensic evidence.

She also volunteered her computer to detectives and co-operated with investigating officers, but police failed to uncover any evidence.

She was dismissed in July 2002 and five months later the governors' panel confirmed the sacking.

Referring to the hate mail, school governor Mervyn Ward told an employment tribunal in Liverpool: "It was clear that they could only come from someone with a detailed and long-term knowledge of the school.

"The decision to dismiss her was not taken lightly but we felt that we had more than enough evidence to reach our decision."

A Warrington Borough Council human resources officer said: "I found that the letters and e-mails contained details from someone who had a close knowledge of the school. In my view there was sufficient evidence that Mrs Tasker was involved in the compilation and distribution of the letters and e-mails."

At the suggestion of tribunal chairman Eryl Lloyd-Parry, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement after more than three hours of negotiations. Outside the tribunal Mrs Tasker said: "The matter is now closed. I have got to get on with my career now and put this behind me."