BY ALAN ERWIN
A SENIOR civil servant, who lifted the lid on alleged mismanagement at a cross-border agency, yesterday (Tuesday) settled a High Court action brought over his treatment.
Brian McTeggart sued both Waterways Ireland and his employers in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
But mid-way through a trial due to last for at least three weeks, an out-of-court resolution was reached between the parties.
Mr McTeggart is to receive an undisclosed sum as part of the settlement without any admission of liability by either defendant.
He will also have his legal costs paid under the terms of the agreement.
The 54-year-old, from Enniskillen, claimed for personal injuries, loss and damage allegedly sustained during his time working as director of corporate services at Waterways Ireland – one of six north-south implementation bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement.
He represented himself in the lawsuit, brought after receiving £50,000 in a separate industrial tribunal case settled again without liability being admitted.
Mr McTeggart, who joined Waterways Ireland in 2000 to help set up a headquarters in Enniskillen, made allegations concerning senior appointments, bullying and management of the organisation.
A failure of leadership, patronage, political influence from the Irish Republic and malpractice of appointments were also alleged.
This whistle-blowing set in motion an investigation involving government officials on both sides of the border, which lasted almost two years.
Mr McTeggart was told that his offer of employment, which he could not formally take up due to the probe, had been formally withdrawn in March 2005.
In his High Court action, he sought damages against both bodies for an alleged campaign, which he said caused his health to suffer and 'blighted' his career.
Giving evidence, he claimed to have been isolated before his secondment with the agency – one of six north-south implementation bodies – came to an end in 2004.
He further accused DCAL of failing to protect him from the alleged bullying and harassment when he alerted them.
Following the settlement, Mr McTeggart claimed that he had been vindicated by the outcome.
He said outside the court: "I had complained about gross mismanagement, malpractice in senior appointments and a culture of bullying and harassment in the largest cross-border body. I was targeted and bullied and harassed. "
"I was eventually driven out of the organisation in 2005," he said. "I have fought a long battle to get to this point. I feel vindicated by this substantial settlement. This outcome acknowledges the wrongs done to me and the damage to my career and professional reputation.
"Together with the settlement in the Public Interest Tribunal in 2007, it sends a powerful message to those in positions of authority ... that such failures in governance cannot be tolerated."
