Postal worker settles bullying action against An Post

A postal sorter who claimed he was bullied, harassed and intimidated by another worker has settled his High Court action against An Post.

Joseph Craven said he was stared and glared at, intimidated and stalked by another worker in the An Post Dublin Mail Centre.

Mr Craven, Ardbeg Park, Artane, Dublin had sued An Post alleging negligence arising from the alleged harassment and bullying by another worker. The company failed to discipline the other worker or to properly investigate Mr Craven’s complaints, it was claimed.

He claimed it was the duty of An Post while he was employed as a postal sorter to take all reasonable steps or precautions for his safety and not to expose him to a risk of damage or injury of which they knew, or ought to have known, and to provide a safe working environment.

His contract of employment required that he would not be caused psychiatric or psychological damage by other employees and that he would be provided with a workplace free from bullying, harassment, verbal assault and intimidation, he also claimed.

During his employment at the mail centre for some three years from September 2008, he was bullied, harassed, verbally abused and intimidated by one particular worker, he claimed.

An Post denied liability and pleaded the complaints made by Mr Craven were taken seriously and that efforts were made to resolve the situation. The other worker was given a verbal warning in 2011 in relation to staring at Mr Craven, it also said.

When the case resumed today, the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns was told the action had been settled and could be struck out.