MORE public money could be used to fight the Dewsbury veil case.

The lawyer representing the Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom said today he hoped to secure Legal Aid to continue her fight.

An employment tribunal ruled that 24-year-old Aishah Azmi was not discriminated against or harassed by Headfield C of E Junior School in Dewsbury.

But the tribunal upheld her claim that she had been victimised and awarded her £1,100 for "injury to feelings".

Today her lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the case had so far only cost the public a figure "in the hundreds of pounds" because of the way the centre is funded.

Kirklees Council gave the centre £68,000 this year and has funded it in previous years.

But Mr Whittingham admitted he had applied for `exceptional funding' to cover legal representation at the five-day tribunal hearing this month.

If this money was awarded it would be between £5,000 and £10,000.

"If we don't get that we're doing it for free," he added.

Mr Whittingham said his team was putting together Mrs Azmi's appeal and confirmed he would be applying for Legal Aid to pay for this next stage of her battle.

He added: "We're hopeful of getting Legal Aid for this."

He said he could not say how much this could eventually cost, if money was secured, but dismissed some reports of a total cost of about £250,000.

Mrs Azmi, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, was suspended on full pay this year and continues to be suspended following the tribunal decision.

Mr Whittingham said he had heard nothing from the education authority, Kirklees Council, to suggest the council was considering ending her employment.

But he added: "I think they are sitting around now working just what to do next.

"I think they have put themselves in a very difficult position."

Today a Kirklees spokesman said: "The first thing we need to do is study the judgement in detail before deciding the next steps.

"She has indicated that she is going to appeal. Until issues get clarified her employment status remains the same - i.e. she remains on suspension `without prejudice' - until the council considers its position."

Labour MP Shahid Malik, who represents Mrs Azmi's home town of Dewsbury, said the tribunal ruling was "a victory for common sense".

He urged her to drop her appeal.

Mrs Azmi's claim was brought as a test case under the 2004 Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations.

The tribunal dismissed her claims that the school directly discriminated against her on the grounds of her religious belief, indirectly discriminated against her by applying a practice that put her at a disadvantage due to her religious belief or that she was subjected to harassment due to her beliefs.

But it said Mrs Azmi was victimised because of her religious beliefs.

The tribunal also found that Kirklees had not complied with statutory grievance procedures and awarded a 10% increase on the £1,000 sum for injury to feelings.