'Ripper Street' Stagehand Loses Lawsuit for Wrongful Termination

Charlene McKenna as Rose in “Ripper Street”

A supervising stagehand on hit TV series Ripper Street Failed in unfair dismissal case against Sally Rooney producers Normal people and the Oscar-winning film, Poor things.

This follows the employment tribunal’s dismissal of John Arkins’ action against Element Pictures.

Speaking for the employment tribunal, deputy chairman Louise O’Donnell found that Mr Arkins had failed to establish that he had at any time been employed by Element Pictures in any capacity and that his complaint should therefore be dismissed.

Ms O’Donnell concluded the complaint was unfounded and upheld a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decision from May 2020 in a case in which the parties were not named.

The case was taken to the employment tribunal on appeal by Mr Arkins, who claimed Element Film Ltd was his employer when he worked on Ripper Street fourth series and when he was fired in 2016.

On behalf of Element Pictures, Hugh McDowell BL stated categorically that Mr Arkins had never worked for Element Pictures, had never been paid by the company and that Element Pictures was not the producing company of Ripper Street series four.

He said documents opened in court by the Companies Registration Office (CRO) supported this position and highlighted that Kilternan Films Production Ltd was the company behind Rue de l’Éventureur series four.

CRO documents show the producing company was Element Pictures Productions Ltd, which is not the company Mr Arkins was bringing action against.

Mr McDowell argued that CRO documents relating to Element Pictures Productions Ltd and Element Film Ltd show they are two separate legal entities, although there is some crossover in terms of directors.

In the fully contested employment tribunal case, Element Pictures co-chief executive Andrew Lowe gave evidence to refute Mr Arkins’ unfair dismissal claim.

He said Element Pictures Ltd has about 44 full-time employees between cinemas and distribution, and about 30 part-time employees.

Mr Lowe said Mr Arkins never worked for the company and was never paid by it.

According to Mr Arkins, he was employed by Elements Pictures Ltd and, when they did not offer him a position, he was unfairly dismissed.