Policewoman wins £55,000 damages

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7634242.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A former police inspector has received £55,000 compensation after claiming she was victimised by senior officers.

Jacinta Mackie, who retired in February after 28 years' service, claimed her health had suffered as a result.

She claimed she was sidelined and undermined after she complained about harassment and discrimination.

Sexual comments, remarks about her personal health and disparaging references about other female officers were made, she said.

Mrs Mackie, a Catholic, from north Down, agreed to the compensation settlement without the allegations being heard by an industrial and fair employment tribunal.

Her first complaints were lodged in 2004 but, according to the Northern Ireland Equality Commission which backed her case, they were not properly and adequately addressed.

'Regret'

The PSNI has expressed sincere regret that she genuinely felt she had been discriminated against.

In a statement, it acknowledged she experienced a significant injury to her feelings arising from her work situation and the regrettable delay in progressing her complaints.

It also accepted that she brought the proceedings in good faith and "suffered considerable distress in pursuing her case and that her health was impaired as a result".

The commission said Ms Mackie complained of sex discrimination, harassment and religious/political discrimination and, subsequently, victimisation and disability discrimination.

"The matters she complained of involved her treatment by senior officers and staff, including allegations of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, references to her personal health and disparaging references about other female officers," the statement said.

"She also alleged that she was sidelined and undermined in her professional work within the police service and that, when she complained about these matters, these complaints were not properly addressed in line with policy or normal disciplinary procedures.

"She alleges that the handling of her grievances, and of the impact all this had upon her health, was inadequate."

Anne McKernan, the commission's casework director said there had been an encouraging increase in the number of Catholic women joining the police.

"It is important that there be a firm focus on the measures needed to ensure that today's PSNI offers a welcoming working environment for all officers, regardless of gender or community background," she said.