An appeal by a Fine Gael TD against a €25,000 unfair dismissal award made to his former employee will not be heard until the New Year.
Deputy Sean Conlan is seeking to overturn the award made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal, in February, to his former secretarial assistant Cathy Shevlin.
David O’Brien BL, for Mr Conlan, instructed by Kevin O’Higgins Solicitors, told county registrar Joseph Smith on Wednesday, that his instructing solicitor would not be available for an October hearing. He said he was seeking to adjourn the case until the next call over date.
Emer Holohan, of Ballyhealy & Co, for Ms Shevlin, said her client had only heard about the case because it was on the list and had received no formal notification of it. She agreed to the adjournment.
The matter will now be listed for January.
Ms Shevlin worked for the Cavan-Monaghan deputy from June 2011 until March 2013, when, the EAT found, she was unfairly dismissed.
She had claimed she was bullied and harassed by the TD and his parliamentary assistant and girlfriend Ms Sarah Comiskey. The claims were denied. Mr Conlan said Ms Shevlin was dismissed over breaches of her contract.
