Prison officer faces discipline over advances

A SENIOR prison officer at Dublin’s Cloverhill jail is facing disciplinary sanctions over alleged sexual harassment of a female colleague.

The senior officer has been the subject of a major investigation after a younger female officer made several serious allegations against him.

The case was considered so serious that prison bosses called in external investigators to look into the claims. A lengthy investigation ensued.

Both prison officers were interviewed as well as some of their colleagues who may have witnessed alleged ‘unwanted advances’ and ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the male prison officer.

It is understood that ‘lewd text messages’ were admitted as evidence as part of the external investigation.

The complaint was made over 12 months ago.

In recent weeks, the firm of external investigators submitted a lengthy report on the case to prison bosses.

The Irish Daily Mail understands that the prison officer has been found to have a ‘case to answer’ in relation to alleged sexual harassment.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service declined to comment when contacted.

The Mail understands a number of sexual harassment allegations were made against the senior officer. Not all have been upheld. The senior officer was sent to another jail while the investigation was under way.

The female complainant remained at Cloverhill.

She got promoted, as part of a separate process, and has been subsequently moved to another jail. The senior prison officer under investigation has since returned to Cloverhill.

It is understood that, because of the external examiners’ recommendations, prison bosses are now expected to launch disciplinary proceedings.

A source said: ‘In the current climate, any type of sexual harassment is deemed completely unacceptable.

‘This officer could face serious sanctions.’

A separate source said that the officer is well-liked.

‘But many officers, despite liking him a lot, think his behaviour was totally out of order,’ the source said. ‘His behaviour went on for months towards this female officer.

‘She made it very clear she did not appreciate his advances. But he wouldn’t stop. He seemed to think it was all a big joke. But indeed it was not to her at all.

‘In fact, it was extremely upsetting for this officer.

‘It went on for a long time before she felt forced to make the complaint. He made her working life very difficult.’

‘It was extremely upsetting for her’