Former S4C boss sues channel for £560k 'loss of earnings'

Llinos Griffin-Williams was S4C's chief content officer from April 2022

A former boss at the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C is suing the channel for hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Llinos Griffin-Williams was sacked immediately from her six figure a year job with the broadcaster in 2023.

At the time, it was reported that she had allegedly been drunk and verbally abused former rugby player Mike Phillips while attending the Rugby World Cup in Nantes in a work capacity.

In documents filed at the High Court, Ms Griffin-Williams denies all allegations of misconduct. S4C said it would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal case.

Llinos Griffin-Williams allegedly insulted Mike Phillips' Welsh language skills

Ms Griffin-Williams says her dismissal as S4C's chief content officer and the publicity surrounding it means her career in the broadcasting industry has been "destroyed" and she has been "forced to undertake part-time, self-employed work".

She is now claiming £565,000 in loss of earnings as well as making undisclosed claims for reputational damage and injury to her feelings and health.

In court documents, Ms Griffin-Williams states she has been criticised by strangers in the street, abused on social media, suffered professional isolation, and physical and mental health problems since her dismissal.

She is also claiming misfeasance in public office against S4C's former chair Rhodri Williams.

In lengthy court documents which have been seen by Newyddion S4C, Ms Griffin-Williams claims she was summarily dismissed by Mr Williams without a chance to discuss or appeal that decision.

Court documents outline the contents of her dismissal letter, which stated she "was witnessed to be clearly intoxicated to a degree that it adversely affected her behaviour", had used "bullying and wholly unprofessional language in text messages".

It also states that Ms Griffin-Williams verbally abused former Welsh rugby international Mike Phillips, using a swear word to say his Welsh language skills were not good enough, and said "if it wasn't for her no one would know who he was". She denies these allegations.

Also in the court documents, Ms Griffin-Williams alleges Mr Williams' actions towards her "were motivated by personal animosity towards her".

She claims she was dismissed immediately after presenting the broadcaster's strategy for 2024-25 "to about 100 people from the media sector in Wales".

She claims this was done "to cause her the highest degree of public exposure and maximum distress, embarassment and humiliation".

Court documents on Ms Griffin-Williams' behalf allege S4C have broken data protection laws - an accusation that the broadcaster denies.

Former S4C Chair Mr Williams denies leaking any information to the press and media

Ms Griffin-Williams also claims Mr Williams leaked information to the media regularly – an accusation he denies.

She cites several examples of anonymous sources being quoted in Newyddion S4C and news website Nation.cymru reports during a turbulent period in the broadcaster's history, where allegations of bullying and misbehaviour led to the sacking of former chief executive Sian Doyle.

She has previously also denied any misbehaviour and is pursuing separate High Court action against S4C.

Mr Williams' defence documentation states he was contacted by three sources from the broadcast industry outlining concerns about Ms Griffin-Williams' alleged behaviour in Nantes.

He claims he sought legal advice which informed him he was permitted to take the unilateral decision to sack the former chief content officer for gross misconduct.

He also states he "sought to communicate this... without a delay in a setting where she could be supported by... [the] head of HR." S4C also state that "there was a need to deal with the situation swiftly".

Documents also note the other members of the S4C board subsequently approved Mr Williams' decision to dismiss Ms Griffin-Williams.

In a statement to Newyddion S4C on Thursday afternoon, Ms Griffin-Williams said she was left with no other option but to pursue legal action.

She added that she was "deeply saddened" to challenge the broadcaster but believed the "fight is necessary to expose the wrongdoings" and to "secure genuine institutional change".

S4C said it would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal case. Mr Williams did not wish to comment further.