A senior employee of the Educational Building Society (EBS) who claimed she was bullied and harassed after allegedly discovering "financial irregularities" in its pension scheme, has settled her High Court proceedings against the society.
The case brought by Mary Devine was settled yesterday afternoon after day-long talks between lawyers for the sides.
The society denied claims that Ms Devine was bullied or harassed and also denied claims of irregularities in its financial schemes, funds or transactions. It further denied that Ms Devine had any role in the alleged investigation of irregularities.
The society also denied that it applied a policy of promoting employees who were not members of a trade union.
John O'Donnell SC, for Ms Devine, told Mr Justice Declan Budd the settlement contained a confidentiality clause and no details were disclosed. On the basis of the settlement, the action was adjourned for two weeks when final orders will be made.
Last June, Ms Devine (52), of Merrion Village, Merrion Road, Dublin, secured an interim injunction restraining her dismissal from the society. Ms Devine, the court was told, had worked at the EBS since 1970 and most recently worked as assistant manager of the securities department.
When seeking the injunction, counsel said Ms Devine was a pension trustee member of the society's pension scheme and had discovered irregularities in that fund and brought those to the attention of authorities in the EBS. She had later been passed over for upgrading and promotion and was also the subject of bullying and harassment by a number of other staff, it was claimed.
As a result of the hostility she experienced, she had suffered stress-related illness and was off work for some four years and had undergone counselling, it was further alleged.
Ms Devine had wished to resume work from last June but could not work with those staff members whom she alleged had bullied her.
The EBS denied the claims by Ms Devine and pleaded contributory negligence in that, it alleged, she had failed to co-operate with other staff members and had resorted to making "baseless allegations" against members of the EBS management.
