A Galway City Council sanitation worker who endured what has been described as “one of the worst cases of bullying” has been awarded €25,000 in compensation for disability discrimination.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled in favour of Thomas Greaney, a road sweeper driver, after determining that the council failed to make reasonable workplace accommodations following his prolonged ordeal of workplace harassment.
Bullying Allegations and Workplace Dispute
The case revolved around alleged bullying and victimisation by Greaney’s supervisor, Gerry Daly, after he was transferred to a new work area in January 2021. According to legal submissions by Greaney’s solicitor, Jennifer Gibbons of Concannon Solicitors, Mr Daly made an initial complaint against Greaney just two days into the new role, accusing him of not following instructions. This was the first in a series of complaints, which Greaney claimed were part of a deliberate pattern of bullying.
Among the incidents cited, Greaney was allegedly asked to carry out “improper and unsafe” tasks, including the removal of children’s bicycles from a housing estate—an order he later found was never officially issued by City Hall.
Following these incidents, Greaney formally reported his concerns on March 22, 2021. An internal investigation conducted by City Council executive engineer Michael Tuohy upheld two out of nine complaints and recommended mediation. However, Greaney refused, requesting an independent investigation instead.
Council’s Delayed Response and Health Impacts
Despite Greaney’s repeated calls for an independent review, it took eight months for the council to appoint an external investigator. Meanwhile, Daly returned to work in February 2022, while Greaney was reassigned to another team in May 2022.
During this period, the stress of the situation took a toll on Greaney’s mental health, leading him to seek medical treatment. His GP, Dr. Val Costello, prescribed medication for anxiety and stress-related symptoms.
By November 2023, after nearly three years, Greaney was informed that the investigation was concluded, but was not told what actions or recommendations had been made. Even at the time of his WRC hearing in May 2024, Greaney stated that he still encountered Daly at work, where he claimed the bullying continued through intimidation and gestures.
WRC Ruling: “Matters Have Been Managed Poorly”
During the tribunal, the Local Government Management Agency, representing Galway City Council, denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the council was “not aware of any discriminatory acts”.
However, WRC adjudicator Jim Dolan ruled in Greaney’s favour, criticising the council’s handling of the complaint. He stated that taking two years and eight months to investigate the matter was “far too long” and that the situation was “managed poorly”.
Dolan found that no adequate efforts were made to accommodate Greaney, despite his disability being caused by the bullying. He noted that a simple solution, such as separating the two men, was never implemented.
“This is one of the worst cases of bullying I have seen,” Dolan wrote in his decision, ordering Galway City Council to pay Greaney €25,000 for disability discrimination, in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998.
