Sligo County Council was yesterday ordered by the High Court to pay £65,000 and costs to a firefighter who was "systematically abused, bullied, and betlittled" by a superior officer for eight years.
Mr Michael Shanley (43), of Crozon Park, Sligo, told Mr Justice Butler the abuse was so severe he had contemplated suicide. When an inquiry was eventually held, he had broken down and cried in front of senior Council officials.
He said the matter was investigated by the Anti-Bullying Centre at Dublin's Trinity College which had vindicated his complaints.
According to the centre's report, Mr Shanley's perception of the working relationship between himself and Station officer Liam O'Donnell was one of intimidation, humiliation, undermining, and attempting to isolate him from colleagues.