The High Court has reserved judgment on a challenge by a UCC economics professor to the college's decision to conduct a disciplinary hearing into alleged misconduct by him. The hearing followed an incident where the professor was reported to have grabbed a female member of the college staff by the throat in the college car-park.
The results of the disciplinary hearing are being held in a sealed envelope in a college safe pending the outcome of High Court proceedings.
Prof Connell Fanning, head of the UCC economics department, has strongly disputed the allegation of gross misconduct in the proceedings, which have concluded before Mr Justice Gilligan. The judge reserved his decision.
During the case, counsel for Prof Fanning said the college authorities had concluded the disciplinary procedure and made a determination which was placed in a sealed envelope. If the disciplinary proceedings were declared not applicable, the envelope would be torn up and Prof Fanning would be seeking €50,000 costs.
Counsel said his client had taken part in the disciplinary hearing strictly without prejudice to his claim that he was not amenable to the procedure.
The court was told the incident which led to the proceedings occurred in the college car-park on August 31st, 2001, when Ms Joan Buckley, then an employee of the college's language department, was leaving in her car.
Ms Buckley later reported she was physically assaulted by Prof Fanning arising from his concerns about the safety of his dog and her driving behaviour. Prof Fanning denied any assault.