Ambulance staff threaten action over ‘Peeping Tom’

A ‘Peeping Tom’ senior paramedic, who secretly filmed a female work colleague in the bathroom, has been reinstated by the HSE to an administrative post in Ballinasloe.

Concerns were raised over the 51 year old man’s reinstatement – and his ex- colleagues in the HSE West ambulance service have threatened a work-to-rule.

Cllr Pádraig Conneely, Chairman of the HSE West Regional Forum, asked how the man had been reinstated after admitting harassing a female colleague by recording her activities in a bathroom with his mobile phone.

The man got the Probation Act after the Court heard he had paid his colleague €5,000. He had been suspended from work but was reinstated after an Employment Appeals Tribunal.

The man worked in North Tipperary as an advanced paramedic and since his reinstatement has been transferred to a ‘desk job’ within the ambulance service, in Ballinasloe … both locations fall within the operational area of HSE West.

But HSE executives refused to discuss the matter at a meeting of the Regional Forum on Tuesday, saying it did not fall within the remit of the Forum as per clause 42 of the Health Act 2004.

Cllr Conneely said he couldn’t understand how the HSE was not concerned at having this employee working for them, and especially when his own colleagues were concerned and talking about taking industrial action.

He said a work to rule within the already pressurised ambulance service would affect patients in Galway and elsewhere.

But Bernard Gloster, Acting Regional Director, refused to answer Cllr Conneely’s questions or allow the matter to be discussed.

“We are not going to discuss any private individuals at this Forum,” he said.

Cllr Conneely said it was already a matter of public record because of the man’s court appearance where he was named.

Mr Gloster agreed but added that other matters had been alluded to by the Chairman that were not a matter of public record.

“You are entitled to your opinion, Chairman, but I am not prepared to talk about it,” concluded Mr Gloster.