A CATHOLIC worker at aerospace firm Short Brothers, who suffered a “chillingly frightening” campaign of sectarian text threats, has been awarded damages of £11,500.
Aircraft fitter Louis McGettigan was warned in messages to watch his back and told there were too many “Taigs” working at the company’s Belfast plant.
A judge ruled that Shorts was liable for harassment by another member of staff within the predominantly Protestant workforce.
Policies to deal with bullying issues were not implemented, Belfast County Court held. Although Judge Melody McReynolds gave her decision in December, details have only been disclosed now.
Mr McGettigan (56), west Belfast, brought a case over intimidation he became embroiled in after buying a car from another Catholic worker at Shorts in 2007.
Two years earlier this colleague, who operated a sideline as a car dealer, reported to his employers that he received threats, including a live bullet and a sympathy card in his work locker.
The court heard it contained the message “We no who you lawnder [sic] money for, your names on this one taig beware.”
This man, identified only as PB, also claimed that in the company car park, a Protestant colleague produced an AK47 gun from under a blanket in his car and asked him to buy it for £600.
In May 2007, Mr McGettigan, who has 24 years of service with Shorts, reported to his line manager that he had received a text message instructing him to tell PB to stop what he was doing or else he would be shot.
Belfast Harbour Police were informed, with both the plaintiff and PB interviewed. The mobile phone was taken for 2½ months but was kept in a harbour police drawer without any forensic examination, the court heard.
Judge McReynolds held that Shorts took no steps over any internal investigation, risk assessment or policy announcement.
After the phone was returned to him, Mr McGettigan received two more text messages. One stated: “Ur as bad as dat provy c***”, warned him to watch his back and added: “we run Shorts”.
The judge ruled that no defence had been established. “The nature and circumstances of the plaintiff’s employment were that this company had a predominantly Protestant workforce and is located in a predominantly Protestant part of the city. It was aware of the receipt by the plaintiff of a series of intimidating messages. It had policies which were not implemented.”
She added: “The reality of this shop floor is that, with full knowledge that a long-serving employee of good standing and proven integrity reported chillingly frightening sectarian texts to various managers, the employer did nothing beyond providing a room for police interviews.
She awarded general and special damages of £11,500.
Lawyers for Shorts are expected to appeal the ruling.