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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Racially abused Croat given £50k | Racially abused Croat given £50k |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| A Croatian man who was racially abused at his workplace has been awarded £53,596 by an industrial tribunal. | A Croatian man who was racially abused at his workplace has been awarded £53,596 by an industrial tribunal. |
| Nenad Zubin, 41, who has lived in NI for over 20 years, worked at Brett Martin, a polycarbon sheeting company based at Mallusk. | Nenad Zubin, 41, who has lived in NI for over 20 years, worked at Brett Martin, a polycarbon sheeting company based at Mallusk. |
| He was dismissed from his post for misconduct in 2007 but took a case against the company on the grounds of racial discrimination. | He was dismissed from his post for misconduct in 2007 but took a case against the company on the grounds of racial discrimination. |
| The tribunal ruled the company had ignored the harassment he suffered. | The tribunal ruled the company had ignored the harassment he suffered. |
| Mr Zuban, who worked as a process operator at the plant, was told at one point that "the Serbs were just right to rape your women and children". | Mr Zuban, who worked as a process operator at the plant, was told at one point that "the Serbs were just right to rape your women and children". |
| The incident which ultimately led to his dismissal occurred on 30 October 2007 on a night shift when he was discovered by his supervisor, Matt McMurtry, lying on the floor near his machine. | The incident which ultimately led to his dismissal occurred on 30 October 2007 on a night shift when he was discovered by his supervisor, Matt McMurtry, lying on the floor near his machine. |
| Vendetta | Vendetta |
| He was subsequently sacked for being asleep at work but claimed that he had been subject to a vendetta by the supervisor who found him. | He was subsequently sacked for being asleep at work but claimed that he had been subject to a vendetta by the supervisor who found him. |
| The tribunal accepted evidence which indicated that this vendetta included the supervisor racially abusing Mr Zuban, scrapping his work, and crossing his name off time-sheets. | The tribunal accepted evidence which indicated that this vendetta included the supervisor racially abusing Mr Zuban, scrapping his work, and crossing his name off time-sheets. |
| Witnesses for Mr Zuban corroborated his evidence that the supervisor often made derogatory comments about his nationality. | Witnesses for Mr Zuban corroborated his evidence that the supervisor often made derogatory comments about his nationality. |
| These included: "The Serbs were just right to rape your women and children" and "See that Croatian fella, he left his wife and 18 kids and came here on the back of a lorry". | These included: "The Serbs were just right to rape your women and children" and "See that Croatian fella, he left his wife and 18 kids and came here on the back of a lorry". |
| The tribunal's judgement said that it was "shocking" that Mr McMurtry had got away with making such comments and found the company liable for his acts. | |
| It found that management at the company had "effectively condoned" racist bullying by doing nothing about it. | It found that management at the company had "effectively condoned" racist bullying by doing nothing about it. |
| The judgement described a "culture of fear" at the company and said that at times the behaviour of the human resources department was "reprehensible." | The judgement described a "culture of fear" at the company and said that at times the behaviour of the human resources department was "reprehensible." |
| A spokesman for the company said that it was extremely disappointed at the outcome and does not agree with the findings of the tribunal. | A spokesman for the company said that it was extremely disappointed at the outcome and does not agree with the findings of the tribunal. |
| "We re-iterate our strong commitment to equality of opportunity, which has been proven over 50 years, and are considering our position regarding appealing this decision," the spokesman added. | "We re-iterate our strong commitment to equality of opportunity, which has been proven over 50 years, and are considering our position regarding appealing this decision," the spokesman added. |