Gay Belfast Docker Awarded £45k Compensation

A Belfast dock worker has been awarded £45,000 in compensation after an industrial tribunal found he had been unfairly dismissed by Stena Line for reacting to homophobic abuse in the workplace.

The tribunal found 51-year-old Martin Sheil had been unfairly dismissed by Stena Line Irish Sea Ferries Ltd., and that he had been the victim of discrimination and harassment at work on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Mr Sheil said he was unfairly dismissed following an incident involving himself and a colleague who had directed homophobic abuse at him.

The tribunal found the company had failed to investigate Mr Sheil's allegations and had not considered whether these were mitigating circumstances.

The panel allowed that Mr Sheil had contributed partly to his own dismissal by deciding to take action on the abuse himself, rather than reporting it to management. As a result, his award was reduced by 10%. It was also reduced by a further 20% to reflect the chances that he had been dismissed fairly. The panel decided upon £37,500 for unfair dismissal and £7,500 for harassment at work.

Mr Sheil said: "This has been a difficult period in my life. My job at Stena was very important to me and I worked hard to keep my private life and work life separate.

"I endured months of abuse in silence. The reason I took this case was to try and make sure that others don't have to go through this. I am relieved this process is over and that the tribunal has ruled on the kind of the harassment I suffered. I have experienced a rough couple of years and I am now looking forward to a fresh start and just getting on with my life."

(IT/JP)