The Supreme Court has given a former diocesan secretary one more month to file legal submissions for her appeal against the High Court's rejection in 2005 of her claim that she was entitled to a job for life.
Otherwise, the three-judge court stressed yesterday, it would grant an application by the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin to strike out Mary Sheehy's appeal.
Ms Sheehy (53), of Green Road, Carlow, lost a legal challenge two years ago to the decision to make her redundant from her position with the diocese. She later lodged an appeal against the decision.
Yesterday a motion by the diocese to strike out the appeal on grounds of delay in advancing it came before the Supreme Court. Patrick Hanratty SC, for the diocese, said Ms Sheehy's side had indicated they wanted an adjournment of the motion and another month to file their submissions.
Counsel also said his side was "exasperated" at the manner in which the appeal was being advanced. He said the chief justice had said last July that submissions for Ms Sheehy should be filed by September.
Angela Heavey, for Ms Sheehy, said her side was in court to defend the motion and wanted one more month to file submissions for the appeal. Her side might also seek to file additional submissions to any reply to its main submissions, she added.
Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, presiding at the court, and sitting with Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns and Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, said the court was not disposed to strike out the appeal but there should be no further delays.
The judge said the chief justice had expressed concern about the long delay in the case and Ms Sheehy had to bear responsibility for that delay. The court made a conditional order that the appeal would be struck out unless submissions were filed by December 23rd next.