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.