A Dunnes Stores personnel manager yesterday in the High Court sued the company for damages, claiming she had suffered bullying, harassment and victimisation at the hands of a grocery store manager while working in the Henry Street, Dublin branch.
In a letter from the company's solicitors in March 1999, which was opened in court, it was claimed the "very serious allegations" were untrue, unfounded and rejected in full.
Mr Frank Callanan SC said his client, Ms Helen Curran (50), of Meadow Drive, Hartstown, Clonsilla, Dublin left the firm two days ago and did not want to return. She had been employed by the company for 28 years.
In April 1997, she started work at Henry Street, under the direction of the grocery manager, Mr Ronan Maher.
Counsel said the actions of Mr Maher towards Ms Curran and the response of the company were the proximate cause of the injuries to his client.
Although Mr Maher was not working in Henry Street any more - he had since been promoted - it had proved difficult for Ms Curran to remain employed in Dunnes.
Ms Curran complained that from September 1997 she had received gross rudeness, intimidation and undermining of her authority from Mr Maher. There had been attempts to humiliate her in front of staff and customers and countermanding of directions and orders given by her to staff.
In an effort to undermine her authority a direction was given by Mr Maher to employees to "keep an eye on her" and report to him at what time she arrived and left the store. Mr Maher also contrived to encourage persons to make complaints against her.
He engaged in open mockery which reduced her to tears on more than one occasion.
A small number of meetings had been arranged by personnel following complaints by Ms Curran which led to some form of investigation that was entirely inadequate.
In the letter from Dunnes Stores' solicitors in March, 1999, it was stated that Ms Curran's employment with the company had in recent years "been characterised by a combination of lack of interest in her job and an overbearing and vindictive attitude to staff."
The hearing continues today.