Irish Rail has brought a High Court challenge to a “draconian” decision by an Equality Officer awarding a company employee €189,000 over gender discrimination and victimisation of her by the company.
Equality Officer Orlaith Mannion had last November made the awarded to Irish Rail’s senior marketing department director, Monica Murphy, arising from the findings of victimisation and discrimination.
Following that award, Irish Rail CEO Richard Fearn suspended longtime HR manager, John Keenan, claiming he had lost confidence in Mr Keenan because he had delayed for ten days before informing him of the outcome of the Murphy case.
Mr Keenan later settled a High Court action arising out of the suspension.
Today, Mr Justice John Hedigan began hearing Irish Rail’s proceedings against Ms Mannion in which it alleges she acted outside her powers in making the victimisation finding. Ms Mannion denies the claims as does Ms Murphy, a notice party to the case.
