Female employee pressured into filing suit
The High Court has been told that a female employee at Aer Lingus only made a complaint of sexual harassment after she had a conversation with company chairman Bernie Cahill.
Mr Cahill denied in an affidavit that he pressurised Miss Ann Lawlor into making the complaint against Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Michael Foley. Mr Foley's request to the court for the right to appeal in this case will continue in the morning.
The court was told that personal assistant Ann Lawlor had a conversation last year with Mr Cahill. In his affidavit, Michael Foley claimed that Miss Lawlor was pressured into making a complaint for sexual harassment against him. In his responding affidavit Aer Lingus chairman Bernie Cahill denied persuading Miss Lawlor into lodging the complaint.
Michael Foley's main argument today is that he has been denied the right to appeal the findings of an internal inquiry against him. However, the court was told the Aer Lingus staff guidelines provide for two possible appeal avenues. Mr Foley's lawyer indicated that Aer Lingus has breached its own rules.
