The Simon Community dismissed a pregnant woman as soon as she told them she wanted to take maternity leave, Galway Circuit Court heard yesterday.
Ms Anne Maloney, of Ashleigh Grove, Knocknacarra, who appeared in court heavily pregnant, was seeking an injunction directing her employers to reinstate her. The case was settled later in the day.
Ms Maloney's counsel, Mr Michael O'Connor, told Judge Harvey Kenny that this was an unusual application. He said his client had taken up employment with the Simon Community in July, 1998, and had been advised that the first year would be a probationary period.
She understood that if that went well her employment would be extended for a further two years. After her probationary period elapsed, nothing was said to her and her employers then tried to extend her probationary period. Mr O'Connor said his client was dismissed last Friday, two weeks before she was due to go on maternity leave.
"It appears there was a difference in attitude once she became pregnant," he said.
He told the court that Ms Maloney would be destitute if she was not reinstated, as her husband was earning only £50 a week.
While the application was made to the court without the presence of the other party, the Simon Community had been put on notice, Mr O'Connor explained.
He told Judge Kenny that it was technically possible for him to reinstate Ms Maloney and preserve her maternity rights.
The judge directed that the papers be served on the Simon Community. He said he would like to hear from the other side and acknowledged that it would not have much time to brief its legal team. Late in the afternoon, Mr O'Connor told Judge Kenny that the case had been settled confidentially and the action would be struck out.