But Mrs Downey, in charge of the Grade II listed hotel on Lime Street for 13 years, always denied race was a factor in suspending Mr Coke.
She showed the tribunal video of CCTV footage which she believed was evidence he had taken the missing money from the safe, in February 2005.
But Merseyside Police, who also viewed the footage, dropped any prospect of a criminal investigation into Mr Coke in April, and Mrs Downey allowed him to return to work.
The tribunal heard allegations from Mr Coke that he was ostracised and snubbed by other workers when he came back to work, after which he filed an official grievance.
But the final judgment found no evidence of any unlawful discrimination. The written document released yesterday said Mr Coke's claims had failed and been dismissed outright.
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