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'I was bullied to death'

Brian Lashley
2/ 2/2006

A DESPERATE father of four killed himself after a two-year bullying campaign at work, an inquest heard.

Anthony McDermott, 50, finally took his own life after being ridiculed when his picture was circulated on the work computer network and pinned on notice boards.

He found it "soul destroying and demeaning", the inquest was told. In a note to his family, he said he was ending his life because he had been bullied by management at Salford-based Mettler-Toledo Safeline Limited.

The former Navy man worked as a test engineer at the firm - worldwide manufacturers of metal detectors.

The company has a no smoking policy in the factory where 300 workers are employed. Mr McDermott, of Alford Avenue, Withington, was smoking a cigarette outside when a colleague used his mobile phone to take a snap of him. The image was entered on the company's internal computer system and put on notice boards.

Warning

Mr McDermott, also known as Tony, complained to the manager but was issued with the firm's first ever warning for breaching the no smoking policy. The inquest was told that it came after a period when he was put under pressure by management to increase the number of heads for metal detectors he passed after testing.

On the day his work was due to be reviewed in July last year, Mr McDermott - a keen Manchester City fan - was found hanged wearing his team's shirt near a canal towpath in Ashton under Lyne.

In an almost unprecedented move, coroner John Pollard read a short extract from a handwritten note found in Mr McDermott's pocket.

It said: "The reason for this is for the last two years I've been bullied at work by management and this includes a photo of myself being taken."

Mr McDermott's brother Martin said he was unaware of the ordeal Tony was going through.

He said: "After Tony's death we spoke to a couple of people from work. Unfortunately they don't want to be named for fear of reprisals. They were aware there was bullying in the factory."

Troubled

Mr McDermott's estranged wife June, from Gorton, said he was very troubled about the warning he received at work.

She said: "He said something along the lines of, `I don't think I can do this for another 15 years'. I didn't realise how serious this would be and it was the last time I saw him."

The inquest was told Mr McDermott had no history of depression or drink or drug problems. Before his death he had lost weight and become subdued. Mr Pollard recorded a verdict he took his own life.

He said: "Clearly there were things concerning Mr McDermott and preying on his mind. I make no finding or judgement on these matters."

His daughter Victoria McDermott, 25, said: "I would like to see the people who bullied my father brought to justice. I don't think it's right to leave it like this and we will see what action we can take."

No one from Mettler-Toledo Safeline Limited gave evidence at the inquest. The company's managing director, Julian Jackson, said: "We don't tolerate bullying by any employee whether management or otherwise. We take any allegation of bullying very seriously."

Asked about Mr McDermott, he said he had no comment.

A spokesman for the union Amicus said: "Bullying in the workplace does take place and it's a lot more common than people think.

"It can, as this sad case proves, absolutely devastate and ruin people's lives. We are working with employers to eradicate this problem."

A Samaritans spokesman said bullying victims should seek help.

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