Prison officer bullied by colleagues gets €50,000 in damages
A RETIRED prison officer who alleged he was abused, bullied and harassed by colleagues over several years was awarded €50,000 in damages yesterday.
Among various claims, Edward Keenan alleged some of his colleagues at Arbour Hill Prison made racist comments about his Asian wife and children. At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice John Quirke said the remarks were made in order to ridicule and isolate Mr Keenan.
The case was brought against two retired prison officers – David Power and Thomas Somers – the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Ireland and the Attorney General. The €50,000 damages award is against Mr Power and the State only.
The judge found Mr Somers had caused injury and damage to Mr Keenan's health between 1987 and 1996 by subjecting him to abuse, bullying and harassment but was not entitled to recover any damages from Mr Somers because that claim was statute barred. Mr Keenan's wife is from Thailand and they had three children born in 1986, 1987 and 1992.
It was claimed he retired prematurely in 2008, after completing 30 years of service, because of the bullying. Mr Keenan had been due to retire in 2014.
The cumulative effect of the injury which caused damage to Mr Keenan's mental health between 1987 and October 2002 may have caused him to retire from the prison service earlier then he would otherwise have done, Mr Justice Quirke said.
The court heard medical evidence that Mr Keenan suffered from anxiety symptoms and sleep difficulties in late 2001 and the ongoing bullying had seriously damaged his confidence and self-esteem.