A woman who claims she was subjected to repeated assaults and physical and sexual abuse by her employer yesterday told the High Court how he would grab her around the waist and put his hand between her legs.
Karen Murphy (40), from Ringsend and now living in Wicklow, has alleged that Danny Hoey, owner of Craft Cleaners, Upper Baggot Street, Dublin, touched her on her arms and shoulders, fondled her buttocks as well as touching her from behind and putting his hand between her legs during her 19 years there.
Ms Murphy is suing Mr Hoey, a businessman, Ailesbury Road, Dublin, and Craft Cleaners Ltd. She is claiming damages for personal injuries as a result of alleged sexual assault and assault and battery perpetrated by Mr Hoey. The defendants deny the allegations.
It is claimed that from the outset of her employment at the dry cleaners in 1980 until she left her job in 1999, Ms Murphy was subjected to repeated assaults, battery, infliction of emotional suffering, intimidation and abuse of a verbal, physical and sexual nature by Mr Hoey in his capacity as a manager of Craft Cleaners.
Frank Callanan SC for Ms Murphy said he was not maintaining the claim for damages in relation to constructive dismissal.
It is claimed that when Ms Murphy first went there to work at Craft Cleaners, she was aged 14 with limited education and limited experience of the world.
In her evidence Ms Murphy said she was 14 years going on 15 when she went for interview at Craft Cleaners in 1980. She was interviewed by Mr Hoey. She started in the tagging area.
Mr Hoey used to come up and put his hands on her shoulders and around her waist. "He would ask how I was doing and that I was a great girl," she said. "I found it very strange. I stood still."
When she moved to the bagging area, Mr Hoey would still come up and put his hands on her shoulders and around her waist. "He would say 'how are you doing baby, how are you doing today?'. At that time I was going out with Tommy who is now my husband and all we did was hold hands, nothing else. I would stand and freeze."
In the basement she claimed he did the same thing and told her not to be afraid, he was not going to hurt her. She found it upsetting and it made her feel awkward.
On Fridays she said the girls would have to go in one by one in to Mr Hoey's office for their wages. "Danny would shout out 'who's next for a feel, girls?' "
"I used to take his hands away and tell him to f**k off and leave her alone."
Another time Mr Hoey tried to put his hands up her blouse.
Ms Murphy broke down as she told how he would drive all his female employees home after a late shift at the Dry Cleaners. Five girls were from Ringsend and he would drive them around the area, putting his hand back and grabbing at legs.
"We would all be pushing each other. Whoever sat in the middle back he would put his hand and start grabbing legs and say 'whose legs am I touching'. It had an awful effect on me."
Asked why did she not refuse the lift, Ms Murphy said all the girls were getting the lift and you had to get a lift home.
The hearing before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan continues.