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Harassment driver awarded £80,000 Harassment driver awarded £80,000
(about 1 hour later)
A Catholic bus driver has been awarded almost £80,000 after he was subjected to sectarian abuse by two Protestant colleagues. Translink have said they may appeal an £80,000 compensation award a tribunal made to an Ulsterbus driver.
A tribunal made the award to Gerald Duffy, a driver employed by Ulsterbus. The Catholic man was awarded £79,161 over sectarian abuse two Protestant colleagues subjected him to.
The 42-year-old from Ballymena in County Antrim was warned he would be burnt out of his home and would be shot if the Troubles resumed. Gerald Duffy, 42, from Ballymena in County Antrim, was warned he would be burnt out of his home and be shot if the Troubles resumed.
He also had a Union flag waved in his face during the five-year campaign of harassment, the tribunal heard.He also had a Union flag waved in his face during the five-year campaign of harassment, the tribunal heard.
Mr Duffy, was awarded £79,161 by a Fair Employment Tribunal which concluded he "endured a series of acts of discriminatory harassment over a lengthy period". Mr Duffy, was awarded the money by a Fair Employment Tribunal which concluded he "endured a series of acts of discriminatory harassment over a lengthy period".
Supported by the Equality Commission, in 2001 he alleged he had been subjected to sectarian harassment and intimidation, and brought a further case in 2002, alleging further sectarian harassment and also victimisation.Supported by the Equality Commission, in 2001 he alleged he had been subjected to sectarian harassment and intimidation, and brought a further case in 2002, alleging further sectarian harassment and also victimisation.
This was a very difficult time for me and I hope that this will improve the way Ulsterbus and other companies deal with situations like this Gerald DuffyThis was a very difficult time for me and I hope that this will improve the way Ulsterbus and other companies deal with situations like this Gerald Duffy
Mr Duffy said: "My dreams were shattered from what happened, it will be hard to work for somebody else again."Mr Duffy said: "My dreams were shattered from what happened, it will be hard to work for somebody else again."
He said he was particularly pleased that the tribunal had acknowledged the reality of the abuse he suffered and the effect it had upon him.He said he was particularly pleased that the tribunal had acknowledged the reality of the abuse he suffered and the effect it had upon him.
"This was a very difficult time for me and I hope that this will improve the way Ulsterbus and other companies deal with situations like this, so that others will not have to endure the same treatment I did.""This was a very difficult time for me and I hope that this will improve the way Ulsterbus and other companies deal with situations like this, so that others will not have to endure the same treatment I did."
'Unwanted deliveries''Unwanted deliveries'
The tribunal found that between 1995 and 2000, the acts Mr Duffy was subjected to were of a serious nature and "particularly offensive and hurtful".The tribunal found that between 1995 and 2000, the acts Mr Duffy was subjected to were of a serious nature and "particularly offensive and hurtful".
They occurred both at his workplace, the Ballymena Ulsterbus depot, and at his home.They occurred both at his workplace, the Ballymena Ulsterbus depot, and at his home.
He was subjected to derogatory remarks about the Pope, told that wearing his crucifix would ensure Protestant bandsmen would get through a nationalist area and taunted about Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness being made education minister, the tribunal heard.He was subjected to derogatory remarks about the Pope, told that wearing his crucifix would ensure Protestant bandsmen would get through a nationalist area and taunted about Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness being made education minister, the tribunal heard.
Other instances of harassment included hiding his keys, colliding a bus with his car, having unwanted deliveries and taxis sent to his home and his workplace, and threatening telephone calls to his home, the tribunal heard.Other instances of harassment included hiding his keys, colliding a bus with his car, having unwanted deliveries and taxis sent to his home and his workplace, and threatening telephone calls to his home, the tribunal heard.
Eileen Lavery of the Equality Commission said: "Substantial financial awards have been made to Mr Duffy for personal injury as well as for injury to feelings, and these relate to the severe impact on him of sectarian harassment over a sustained period, which caused him 'an adjustment reaction with pronounced depressive and anxiety features'.Eileen Lavery of the Equality Commission said: "Substantial financial awards have been made to Mr Duffy for personal injury as well as for injury to feelings, and these relate to the severe impact on him of sectarian harassment over a sustained period, which caused him 'an adjustment reaction with pronounced depressive and anxiety features'.
"The symptoms were 'particularly severe'. The tribunal has held the employer to account for the effect Mr Duffy's treatment had on his health.""The symptoms were 'particularly severe'. The tribunal has held the employer to account for the effect Mr Duffy's treatment had on his health."