A security man with An Post has sued for an alleged failure by the company to have a safe system of work in place arising out of a tiger kidnapping of a colleague s family in 2011.
The action, seeking damages for personal injury, has been brought by Jimmy Bishop, aged 55, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, who works in the GPO in Dublin City Centre as a patrolman . The case arises out of the tiger kidnapping of the family of Liam O Sullivan, an executive with An Post, on April 7, 2011. That morning, Mr O Sullivan presented at the GPO and instructed Mr Bishop to let him into the mail room area. It transpired Mr O Sullivan wanted access to the mail room so he could secure cash from an office located off the mail room to give to kidnappers who were holding members of Mr O Sullivan s family. Mr Bishop, after being told of what had happened, let the executive into the mail room.
Mr Bishop also used a code word to colleagues which alerted others, and the garda were called and arrived at the GPO, the court heard. In his evidence, he said that for several hours after the incident he believed that Mr O Sullivan s wife was going to die and it was my fault because I had given out the code word . An Post, it is claimed in Mr Bishop s action, ought to have known about the likelihood of a tiger kidnapping but failed to have a comprehensive response in place so that all members of staff would know their particular roles should such an event occur. The company also failed to provide him with adequate counselling after the incident and failed to comply with the Safety Health and Welfare Act.
An Post denies the claims. Mr Bishop described the events on the morning of the kidnapping to the court. When Mr O Sullivan told him about what had happened and that the kidnappers had a gun to his wife s head, Mr Bishop said he allowed Mr O Sullivan into the mail room.
He described the situation as tense. When the garda arrived on the scene after Mr Bishop used the code word, he said Mr O Sullivan became upset. Mr Bishop also said nobody in the GPO knew what to do or if they should let the public into the GPO that morning. Afterwards he said he was all over the place. He said he was relieved when he discovered that Mr O Sullivan s wife was ok and safe. Mr Bishop said he returned home by taxi and went for a few pints with his family.
He was asked by somebody at An Post if he was OK and he said he was grand. He had several meetings with a welfare officer with An Post, but later told Mr O Sullivan he wasn t doing so well and asked if he could see somebody . The case continues.
Irish Examiner Ltd.
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