HAMPSHIRE fire brigade has had its appeal against a "landmark" tribunal ruling thrown out. Union officials Simon Green, Steve Ash and Richard Carrington won their industrial tribunal against the service in February this year after it ruled Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service had unfairly robbed them of their union rights. But solicitors lodged an appeal on behalf of the brigade against the findings. The appeal was heard by a panel at the Employment Appeals Tribunal in London in June. The dismissal of the appeal - which brought the 18 month matter to a close for the trio was announced on Thursday. However, fire chiefs are remaining tight-lipped about the result because they say they haven't received written notification yet. The three men took their case to tribunal after they were suspended from work and subsequently prevented from carrying out their duties as union officials. Their suspensions followed the launch of an investigation into alleged bullying and harrasment of officers at Basingstoke fire station in April 1999. The judgement by the appeals tribunal said: "The appellants have not in these circumstances demonstrated to our satisfaction that the tribunal's findings were perverse. "We are satisified that none of the grounds put forward by the appellants can succeed and accordingly the appeal must be dismissed." Speaking on behalf of the three firefighters, Mr Ash told The Gazette that they were all delighted with the result and a full statement would be issued today, Monday.