A book-keeper whose boss repeatedly shouted the word "potato" at her "in a strong Irish accent" has been awarded more than £23,000 by an employment tribunal after it found she had been racially harassed. Bernadette Hayes, who is Irish, worked for engineering company West Leeds Civils in Holbeck when the incidents took place between December 2023 and June 2024. Mick Atkins, director of the firm, also used "offensive and humiliating" phrases that were "overtly linked to race" towards Hayes, a judge ruled. Hayes was awarded £20,735.91 and the business was ordered to give her four weeks' pay, amounting to £2,800. Hayes told the tribunal that throughout her time with the company, Atkins made occasional comments about her being Irish and that while she "knew it was wrong, I tried to accept it as humour". However, she said his behaviour "ramped up" after Atkins' friend Marcus Smith became involved in the business.…