UK-Born Fireman Wins Racist Compensation

An English-born firefighter has been awarded €5,000 in compensation for discrimination by Limerick City Council.

An Equality Tribunal heard Martin Mannering, now living in Cappamore, Co Limerick was left a note to leave his job because he was no longer "in Middlesbrough".

It made the €5,000 award against Limerick City Council after the anonymous note was left in Mr Mannering's locker warning him to follow the example of a former colleague, who transferred from Limerick to Dublin fire service.

The note read: "This is Limerick, Ireland, not Middlesbrough, England. Take (a named former employee's) advice."

The Tribunal heard that when the issue of the anonymous note was brought to the attention of his superiors, Mr Mannering met with a member from the fire service's HR department and later on with the Chief Fire Officer, who agreed to a transfer request on grounds of health and safety.

However, the complainant alleged the Chief Fire Officer failed to follow-up on his complaint of harassment by undertaking a full investigation into the incident.

Mr Mannering, originally from Middlesbrough, had worked with the fire service in Limerick since 2001 and claimed a number of incidents took place at work and during a training course, in which he was treated less favourably than co-workers due to his nationality.

At a hearing last May, he argued that the racist note he received in September 2006, could only have come from within the fire station.

(DW/BMcC)