High Court to rule on teacher's sexual harassment claims

The High Court will rule today on a case brought by a teacher who claims she was bullied and sexually harassed by a male colleague.

Mary O'Toole who teaches history, geography and English, left Tullamore College alleging another teacher, Jim Mooney, had made her feel like a "piece of meat".

Mary O'Toole claims Jim Mooney drove her to breaking point which resulted in her cutting the tyres of his car, an act she now regrets.

The married mother-of-one from Whitehall Estate in Tullamore calims Mr Mooney used to sneer at her and touch her in the staff room, saying things such as: "Sorry Mary, I'm just getting a spoon."

She rejected his claims that it was she who had a crush on him and she denied telling another teacher at the school that she would like to ride off into the sunset with Jim Mooney.

She told the court on one occasion that he exposed himself to her on a staff night out but said she did not call the gardaí because he was very drunk.

She claims the harassment went on between 1996 and 2000. Ms O'Toole is suing Offaly VEC for allegedly doing nothing about her complaints.