A sub-committee of the Aer Lingus board has returned "unfavourable" findings against the airline's chief executive in an inquiry into alleged sexual harassment.
Mr Michael Foley last night rejected the report, which will be considered within days by a separate board sub-committee at the State-owned airline.
According to an Aer Lingus statement yesterday, the new sub-committee is empowered to act with the full authority of its board and take such action as deemed appropriate.
Established at the last meeting of the Aer Lingus board on April 26th, the new sub-committee's members are Mr Des Richardson, Mr Chris Wall and Mr Patrick Wright. It is believed a condition of their appointment was that the subcommittee would be "activated" if the airline's chairman, Mr Bernie Cahill, decided further action was required in the light of the inquiry into alleged sexual harassment.
The investigating sub-committee was appointed in February after a worker director at the airline, Ms Joan Loughnane, alleged sexual harassment against Mr Foley.
Its members - Dr John Keane and Ms Rose Hynes - also inquired into a separate allegation of sexual harassment against Mr Foley which was made in March by a staff member at Aer Lingus headquarters.
The airline confirmed the sub-committee's report was submitted yesterday to Mr Cahill. A statement issued on behalf of Mr Foley said its opinion was "not favourable".
Mr Foley's spokesman said he was determined to continue in his position. "He is determined to clear his name."
Aer Lingus said the investigation was conducted under its policy on "respect and dignity" in the workplace, which covered its procedures for dealing with complaints of alleged sexual harassment.
Mr Foley's statement claimed there were "many inconsistencies and conflicting evidence" in the sub-committee's report. It also alleged "arbitrary, selective and subjective use of evidence" citing "deviation from the substantive elements of the allegations".
Mr Foley was appointed last September. He was head-hunted by the airline after its previous chief executive, Mr Garry Cullen, resigned in February 2000.
He returned from the US, where he led the operations of the brewer Heineken, to take the position. Ironically, Mr Richardson and Mr Wright were on a sub-committee that appointed Mr Foley.
Mr Foley and his solicitors said they found it impossible to understand how the sub-committee came to its opinion and said natural justice had not been served.
The process is seen as a serious distraction for the company, which the Government wants to float on the stock exchange. It has faced a marked downturn in bookings this spring due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.
