Kathleen Ryan awarded €89,584 over sexual harassment

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Kathleen Ryan was awarded €89,584 by the Workplace Relations Commission for sexual harassment and penalisation, in a decision reported on 29 November 2022. The report says the harassment occurred in a classroom on 27 April 2021.

The WRC found Socrates Workforce Solutions Ltd vicariously responsible for harassment and sexual harassment by Ms Ryan’s male colleague. It was not satisfied that the company had taken reasonable steps to prevent the conduct.

The award comprised €64,584, described as two years’ pay, for discrimination by harassment and sexual harassment on the gender ground, and a further €25,000 after the adjudicator found she had been penalised for making complaints.

The adjudicator also criticised the company’s investigation as flawed, citing shortcomings that left Ms Ryan confused and the colleague feeling vindicated. The report says subsequent messages and a phone call from the colleague were provided to the employer and effectively ignored.