Care worker seeks to halt dismissal over ‘blackmail’ video

A care worker who claims he is the victim of a forged webcam “honey trap” scam is seeking a High Court injunction preventing his dismissal.

The man, who works for a private care home provider, says he was summarily dismissed last Monday after two co-workers complained about him after they claimed they saw him engaging in a sexual act posted on Facebook.

He says the video was forged and posted by someone attempting to blackmail him in what is known as the internet honey trap scam.

He never got a copy of the video which was deleted very soon afterwards, the court was told.

In an ex parte application (one side only represented), his lawyers obtained permission from Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan on Friday to serve short notice on the care home of his intention to seek an injunction restraining the employer giving effect to his dismissal.

He also seeks a declaration the dismissal was in breach of fair procedures.

His counsel told the judge the man has an unblemished work record with the care home.

Two co-workers, including the daughter of one of the people who sat on a disciplinary board to deal with his case, complained about the video.

Counsel said the video was a forgery and edited in such a way to say his client was engaged in the sexual act.

Somebody had attempted to blackmail his client in what is now known as a web honey trap scam which has already received a certain amount of publicity, counsel said.

The man was suspended following a disciplinary hearing on May 9th at the end of which the chairman said they were now “going down the road of proving his innocence” and the hearing was adjourned, counsel said.

This meant his client was guilty of something and he had to prove his innocence, counsel added.

Last Monday, the day before the hearing was due to resume, the man received a letter from his employer’s solicitors stating “there was no doubt he was the man in the video” and he was being summarily dismissed, counsel said.

Leaving aside the fact he had not been allowed put his side of the case, the disciplinary process had not even finished at this stage, counsel said.

Ms Justice O’Regan granted permission for the proceedings to be served at short notice on the defendant and returned the matter to next week.