A High Court judge will rule today on whether to lift an international amateur golfer's six-month suspension from his golf club for allegedly slapping a teenage waitress on the bottom.
Mr Hugh Donnelly, Watermeadow Park, Old Bawn, Dublin, was not in court yesterday but a number of members of the club's board were present.
The suspension was imposed on Mr Donnelly by South County Golf Club arising from the alleged incident at the club at Lisheen Road, Brittas, Co Dublin, on September 24th. He claims fair procedures were not followed, that he has been unable to eat or sleep and that he had suffered a dramatic weight loss.
Mr Donnell is seeking an interlocutory injunction directing the club to lift the suspension and permit him to use its facilities pending a full hearing. He claims his standing in the club would be irreparably damaged and he would find it impossible to continue to attend when the six-month period elapses if the suspension is not overturned.
A director of the club company, Mr Kieran McGlynn, said in an affidavit that he believed appropriate and fair procedures were followed at all stages and he and the company's board rejected any suggestion to the contrary. If Mr Donnelly succeeded in his action, his reputation would be vindicated.
Following affidavit evidence and submissions from both sides, Mr Justice Kelly said he would give his judgment today.
During the hearing, counsel for the club asked that the waitress's name be redacted (blacked out) in a report drawn up by a human relations consultant.
Mr Conor Kearney, for Mr Donnelly, said it had been agreed that his client could attend a function last Sunday to be presented with its golfer of the year trophy. He had been a member of the club since December 2002 and represented it in numerous competitions.
For the club, Mr Rossa Fanning submitted that Mr Donnelly did not have an arguable case in claiming the procedures leading to his suspension were flawed. The club had taken appropriate action and the consultant had produced a report that the incident happened as alleged.
Mr Justice Kelly said Mr Donnelly had not been given an opportunity to cross-examine people named in the report or for him to confront his accuser.