Warden retires before harassment case ends

A SENIOR prison officer, who was facing possible disciplinary sanctions following a number of allegations of sexual harassment against him, has retired before facing any penalty.

A string of allegations were made against the officer by a female colleague, including that he sent her ‘lewd text messages’ and made ‘unwanted advances’ on her.

The Irish Daily Mail understands that the officer, following an external investigation, has been found to have a ‘case to answer’ in relation to the alleged harassment.

Not all of the allegations against him were upheld, however.

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

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

Both prison officers were interviewed as part of the probe, as well as a number of colleagues who may have witnessed alleged ‘unwanted advances’ or ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

It is understood that ‘lewd text messages’ were admitted as evidence in the external investigation. The complaint was made more than 18 months ago.

Shortly before Christmas, the firm of external investigators submitted a lengthy report on the case to prison bosses.

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

However, a prison source said: ‘This officer knew that he was facing sanctions, possibly serious ones.

‘He was entitled to retire, so he chose that option.’

The senior officer was sent to another prison facility while the investigation was under way, while the female complainant remained at the same jail.

As part of a separate process, the woman received a promotion, and has subsequently moved to another jail.

On foot of the external examiners’ recommendations, prison bosses had recently launched disciplinary proceedings.

Had they concluded, the senior officer could have faced demotion or even dismissal.

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

A separate source said the male officer in the case was well-liked by co-workers.