A WOMAN who was dismissed from her job as group buyer of lingerie and swimsuits for the Brown Thomas chain of department stores has settled her High Court action against the company.
Earlier this week Mary Mullin, who claimed Brown Thomas terminated her employment after she complained she was bullied and harassed at work by a superior, secured an injunction preventing Brown Thomas from giving effect to its decision to terminate her employment.
At a sitting of the High Court before Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday, Colm Condon SC, appearing with Matthew Jolley for Ms Mullin, told the court the matter had been settled and the proceedings could be struck out.
Marcus Dowling, for Brown Thomas, said his client agreed.
No details of the settlement, announced after lengthy talks between the sides, were revealed in open court. While the terms of the agreement are confidential, it is understood Ms Mullin will not return to work for the company.
In her action, Ms Mullin, Rathgar, Dublin, sought a number of orders, including one preventing Brown Thomas Ltd from dismissing her, and another reinstating her to the job.
In seeking the injunction, lawyers for Ms Mullin, who started work for the store in 2004, told the court their client was informed last week she was being let go.
It was claimed her dismissal arose out of complaints she made to her employers, through the store’s grievance procedures, that she had been bullied by a superior, whom she alleged made her working life “unbearable”.
The complaints were subject to mediation during which counsel said it was suggested at a meeting with a representative of Ms Mullin that she should leave the company, given the breakdown of the working relationship with her superior. She claimed she was “taken aback” by this.
Ms Mullin lawyer’s claimed she had been “summarily dismissed” from what was a “high-profile” and niche job. It was claimed she was not afforded natural justice by Brown Thomas, including the right of an appeal against its decision to terminate her employment.