Courts / Laois / Report
Ex Governor of Portlaoise accuses prison service of sexist demotion
Summary
The former governor of Portlaoise Prison, Ethel Gavin, has accused the Irish Prison Service of a sexist demotion, claiming it was at the behest of 14 male prison officers who staged a walkout in 2018. The incidents leading to the walkout included a senior gangland criminal being allowed a phone call before transfer and the withdrawal of barrier control of a prisoner, who later seriously assaulted an officer. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the Prison Service denied allegations that a senior civil servant gave the officers Gavin's head 'on a plate', insisting that urgent action was taken to expedite management restructuring following a series of incidents. Gavin alleges she was demoted from an acting-up position as governor of the Portlaoise and Midlands Prisons to only oversee the Midlands Prison, losing two grades of seniority. The Prison Service maintains her acting-up role was temporary and that restructuring was necessary due to incidents at Portlaoise.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex Governor of Portlaoise accuses prison service of sexist demotion. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- May 2018 Other
- 4 May Other
- 27 March 2020 Other
- 2023-04-19 Publication
Why: The Prison Service says there was no personal aspect to the restructuring and maintains the WRC lacks jurisdiction to examine the alleged demotion because Ms Gavin only made her complaint 22 months later – and not the six to twelve months required by law. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Places mentioned
- Irish Prison
- Portlaoise
- Portlaoise Prison
- Mullingar
- Mullingar Courthouse
- Midlands Prison
- Portlaoise. The Prison
- The prison
Topics
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