A former managing director of Lund International BV has claimed that, on his return to work from a colostomy procedure in 1997, he had received bullying, insidious, taunting and aggressive emails from his boss.

Mr Michael Conlon (54), Harcourt Green, Dublin, is claiming damages against the company arising from the termination of his contract on April 4th, 2002.

He claims he was bullied, intimidated, overworked and psychologically abused by his former employers.

The company, with an address at Garrycastle, Athlone, Co Westmeath, denies the claims.

Cross-examined yesterday by Mr Finbarr Fox SC, for Lund, Mr Conlon said that when he returned to work after undergoing a colostomy procedure in a German hospital in 1997, he received a number of bullying and insidious emails from his boss, Mr William P Dulman.

These continued until Mr Dulman retired in February 1999.

Mr Conlon said there had been no consultations with him about the removal of his marketing sales manager while he was undergoing major surgery.

At the same time, Mr Dulman was looking for sales increases from him.

He regarded Mr Dulman's reaction to his seeking two days' vacation in February 1998 as "scandalous and outrageous".

Mr Dulman had told him he, Mr Conlon, had been out ill for four months and, having returned to work in January 1998, was now proposing to take a vacation.

This reaction was extremely harsh and sarcastic, Mr Conlon said.

When he took over as managing director in 1991, he had turned his division around and made it profitable again after earlier, almost fatal, trouble, he added.

The case resumes on Tuesday.