The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) welcomes a High Court judgement that sets aside a Labour Court Determination in a case about racial discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts.
The applicant, Mr Peter Onyemekeihia, is an Irish citizen, originally from Nigeria, and has worked as a prison officer since 2008. During a period of over 6 years working in Mountjoy Prison, Mr Onyemekeihia was subjected to constant and abhorrent racial abuse by prisoners, as well as a number of assaults. Mr Onyemekeihia felt that he had no option but to take a complaint under the Employment Equality Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission, and subsequently the Labour Court, as no adequate steps were taken by his employer to address the ongoing abuse over a long period of time notwithstanding ongoing and consistent engagement by Mr Onyemekeihia with his employer.
In an appeal on a point of law to the High Court, the Commission successfully argued that the Labour Court had not provided sufficient reasons for reaching its conclusion. Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, stated:
"Mr Onyemekeihia initiated his proceedings against the Irish Prison Service in 2015 following repeated incidents of racial abuse by prisoners between 2009 and 2015. We welcome the decision of the High Court. The case will be listed for re-hearing before the Labour Court. I urge employers to take all possible actions to protect employees from racial discrimination and harassment as required under the Employment Equality Acts".END/ For further information, please contact: Sarah Clarkin, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 852 9641 / 087 468 7760 sarah.clarkin@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC