Retired teacher settles claim for damages

A retired teacher has settled a High Court action for damages over claims that he was allegedly bullied and subject to homophobic incidents while he was employed by a Vocational Education Committee.

Pearse Brannigan, aged 55, who is gay, claimed a classroom door was graffitied with the words “Brannigan is a queer and bastard”, in one incident in St Laurence’s Community College, Drogheda, where he worked for 18 years for Co Louth VEC.

While he was a lecturer in another VEC college, the Institute of Further Education, Drogheda, an envelope with a half-peeled banana with a condom over it was placed in his locker in 2006, it was claimed.

Arising out of the effect of these and other incidents on his health, he retired in 2006, it was claimed.

He said Co Louth VEC failed to deal with the alleged bullying or provide support to him as he was vulnerable due to hospitalisation for an alcohol problem and by virtue of his sexual orientation.

The claims were denied by the VEC.

His action for damages was due to begin yesterday before High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, who was told, following talks, that the case had been settled and could be struck out with an order for Mr Brannigan’s legal costs.

In his action, it was claimed Mr Brannigan, who was employed between 1981 and 2003 at St Laurence’s, had an alcohol problem in 1998 when he voluntarily entered hospital for treatment and was discharged after two weeks and gave up drinking.

When he returned to his teaching post in 1999, a class of third-year students presented a letter to the then principal, Michael Dowd, complaining that from February to April, he had taught them nothing but grammar.

He claimed that Mr Dowd and the school vice-principal, Teresa Stack, had a meeting with the class involved and that he was also not shown the letter the students had written.

This led to a number of incidents, which started with students verbally abusing him when he returned to teaching them.

Stones were also thrown at him in the classroom, he claimed.

When he complained to the principal, the students were not reprimanded and the verbal abuse continued and spread on to the street, it was claimed.

He claimed that when he complained about the banana in a condom incident to the principal of the Institute of Further Education, Eugene Winters, he was told by Mr Winters he was too busy with more important issues.