A postal worker who hanged himself in his north Dublin home last January left a note to his partner stating that he could not face any more "hassle" at work, an inquest heard yesterday. The 50-year-old man was on extended sick leave from An Post at the time of his death. He had made several complaints of harassment and bullying at work.
The Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he would bring the circumstances of the man's death to the attention of An Post, but it would be inappropriate to add a formal rider to the verdict of death by suicide.
Ms Anne Power, counsel for the man's partner, argued that employers should see suicide as a potential risk where there were allegations of harassment or bullying. She sought to have a rider to this effect added to the verdict.
Mr Roderick Horan, counsel for An Post, said the company had carried out an internal inquiry into the allegations. To add a rider would be to impute blame on his clients, which was beyond the remit of a coroner. The inquest, which was adjourned on a previous occasion to allow representatives of An Post to answer the allegations that the victim had been bullied at work, heard that the victim had made 16 or 17 separate allegations of harassment at work against three colleagues. These allegations had formed the basis of an internal inquiry last September.
Referring to the note found near the body, Dr Farrell said it was couched in loving terms and thanked the man's partner for her support. But the key sentence read: "I can't face any more hassle on the job." This gave a clear indication of the man's intent.