On 8 December 2015, the Court of Appeal, by a two to one majority, overturned the High Court judgement of Mr Justice O’Neill delivered on 9 May 2014 in Ruffley v Board of Management of St. Anne’s School [2014 IEHC 235]. This was a case involving a claim of bullying and harassment which the plaintiff claimed occurred between 14 September 2009 and 27 September 2010 in the course of her work as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in the defendant national school for children with physical or intellectual disabilities.

In the High Court judgment, Mr Justice O’Neill held that the evidence supported a finding that the plaintiff suffered, continued to suffer, and will suffer for some time into the