OPW staff subjected to threats, verbal assaults and indecent exposure

A log of threats and intimidation details nearly three dozen incidents over the past two years, including two cases where a visitor to a heritage site exposed their private parts to a staff member.

The OPW said there was an incident of “indecent exposure” in the car park of one of their sites in the north-east of the country in May 2021.

Another similar case was also recorded in September that year at a heritage site in the west when a “staff member was intimidated by a member of the public exposing himself”.

In October 2022, an employee was verbally abused at a location in the south-east with the member of the public also readying “his dog to attack”.

A bizarre incident in July saw a staff member come in for abuse after telling somebody they did not have permission “to play bagpipes on the site” in the north-east of the country.

In May, an OPW employee was assaulted in the east of the country as they went to open the gates to the site in the morning.

There were multiple cases last year of staff being harassed by “youths drinking alcohol”, a man who was asked to put his dog on a lead, and from an “intoxicated male”.

In March, at a site in the east, a member of the public “who was urinating” also refused to leave a heritage site, according to a log of incidents.​

Overall, there were 15 incidents of intimidation, harassment and threats recorded last year, which was slightly lower than the 19 logged the previous year.

Incidents from 2021 included OPW staff getting abuse from protesters against the Government and another incident where a member of the public “entered a building, protested against an incident, and intimidated staff”.

At a heritage site in the south-east, an employee reported feeling intimidated as cars whizzed around a site at speed.

There was another case in August in the east of the country where a group flying a drone were aggressive when told they were not allowed to do so.

In another incident that month, an OPW staff member was “harassed by a member of the public on a Facebook account”, according to the log of incidents.

Other cases recorded in 2021 included abuse from a member of the public when told a site was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, and staff members being verbally abused when locking up a site by people trying to gain unauthorised access.

Asked about the incidents, a spokesman said: “The staff of the Office of Public Works are dedicated public servants who continuously work to ensure the public can safely access and enjoy our heritage sites, parks and gardens across the country.

“These important heritage properties are enjoyed by millions of national and international visitors annually.

“The OPW asks all visitors to follow the directions of OPW staff when on site and to treat staff with courtesy and respect.”