A TEACHER who told the Circuit Civil Court his bullying headmistress had made life hell for him has lost his €38,000 damages claim against the school.
Robert Atkinson, described by Judge Matthew Deery as a formidable man well able to stand up for himself, now faces a €20,000-plus legal costs bill.
Mr Atkinson, South Circular Road, Dublin, had sued Meanscoil Naomh Colm, Crumlin, Dublin, for psychiatric injury allegedly inflicted by bullying by headmistress Mary Dowling-Maher.
He claimed Ms Dowling-Maher harassed, bullied and intimidated him on an ongoing basis after he had kept a grossly defiant and extremely abusive student out of his classroom.
Mr Atkinson, a history and English teacher, said the principal had humiliated him in front of his class by directing he reinstate the pupil. She had given him extra IT and vocational direction classes, allegedly in breach of his contract.
Ms Dowling-Maher denied ever bullying Mr Atkinson and described him in court as a really good, inspired and innovative teacher. She knew he had been unhappy with the direction to take extra classes but she had to take decisions that affected all staff.
Circuit Court President Mr Justice Matthew Deery said Mr Atkinson had failed to show any connection between his depression and the difficulties he complained of at his school.
He was an excellent teacher and a formidable person, very well able to defend his position, and had come across as not easily bullied.