The Labour Court awarded Louise Walsh €10,000 after finding Waterford Institute of Technology liable for sexual harassment and harassment on the gender ground by students. The determination was dated 13 September 2019.
Walsh said students harassed her in class from October 2014 to March 2015 and that the Institute did not respond adequately. The Institute accepted that some incidents amounted to harassment, but disputed the alleged incident on 19 March 2015 and argued that the complaint was out of time. It also said it had taken all reasonably practicable steps to prevent and address the conduct.
The Court found the 19 March 2015 incident was harassment on the gender ground and that the events from 10 October 2014 to 19 March 2015 formed a continuing pattern within its jurisdiction. It found the Institute had not effectively communicated its Dignity and Respect policy to students or taken reasonably practicable steps to prevent harassment or its recurrence. The Court also ordered a review of how the policy is communicated and how staff complaints about student harassment are handled.