Who we are?

We are two veteran local makers and carnival artists who have spent many years fabricating costumes, giant puppets, and props for Derry Halloween and the Spring Carnival parades.

Summary

When we spoke out as whistleblowers about safety, fair treatment, and governance in our workplace, we faced retaliation. We were locked out of our workshop, stripped of our tools, and pushed out of our livelihoods. We have filed a formal ET1 claim against Derry City & Strabane District Council in the Industrial Tribunal to hold decision-makers accountable.

Call to Action

We are raising legal funds to fight our tribunal case against DCSDC. We need your support: please donate to our legal fund and share this page with everyone in the community today!

What are we trying to achieve?

This test case is about proving that local authorities cannot exploit or discard local creative workers who helped to build Derry city's cultural reputation. By standing up in court, we want to establish vital legal precedents for creative workers across the region:

Employee Status & Basic Rights: Establishing that our working relationship entitled us to statutory employment protections, basic rights, and fair treatment rather than being treated as disposable freelancers.

TUPE Protection: Proving our employment rights and continuity of service should have transferred directly to DCSDC under TUPE regulations when the carnival service was taken over.

Whistleblowing Protection: Seeking legal justice for the detriment, lockout, and loss of income suffered after making protected safety disclosures.

What is the next step in the case?

Our ET1 claim has been formally submitted, and we are moving into the Industrial Tribunal process. Taking on a local council requires formal legal representation, evidence preparation, and expert counsel to ensure our case receives a fair and rigorous hearing.

How much are we raising and why?

Our initial stretch target on CrowdJustice is £2,000 to cover our immediate legal representation and preliminary hearing costs. However, taking a 2-person claim through a full 5-day Industrial Tribunal in Northern Ireland against a local authority is expected to cost approximately £30,000 in total barrister and legal fees. As grassroots artists cut off from our livelihoods, we cannot take on a public authority alone. Every single pound raised goes directly into our legal fund to keep this fight going.

Thank you for standing with the artists of Derry for more respect, more protection, and more accountability.