THE OMAGH HUG THAT HAS ROCKED THE MCALEESE OFFICE
The Omagh hug that has rocked McAleese office
By Ann O'Loughlin and Bernard Purcell
PRESIDENT Mary McAleese gave one of her staff members a hug after the funerals of some of the victims of the Omagh bombing - and it has sparked an unprecedented row in her office, a senior aide has claimed.
The 1998 embrace was to thank Bridget Conway for her support for the President at what was a difficult time, both personally and professionally.
Now Ms Conway has begun a court bid to block a disciplinary probe at her office.
Protocol officer Ms Conway claims resentment of her close relationship with the President is the driving force behind the investigation.
Ms Conway, who has worked on Mrs McAleese's staff for 12 years, claims "bogus" disciplinary proceedings have been "contrived" against her by senior personnel to remove her from her post.
Her lawyers are going to the High Court in Dublin to seek an injunction stopping the disciplinary investigation.
Ms Conway is taking her case against the Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the officer in the Department of Defence nominated to conduct a disciplinary hearing.
A spokesperson for the President said: "This is a personnel matter. The President doesn't have any role in the administration of her department and we don't comment on specific individuals."
Sources indicated Ms Conway is a very hard worker and is respected by a lot of her colleagues.
Ms Conway, who lives in Celbridge, Co Kildare, has worked as the President's protocol officer for the last nine years and manages her day to day diary.
Ms Conway has claimed her relationship with one senior official was initially good but began to deteriorate after the President hugged her on her return from the funerals of Omagh bombing victims in 1998.
The hug was witnessed by an official who, it is claimed, asked Ms Conway to explain "all this hugging stuff".
In the legal papers, Ms Conway claims her close relationship was resented in particular by the personnel officer in the office of the secretary of the President, Loughlin Quinn, and secretary general Brian McCarthy.
By Ann O'Loughlin and Bernard Purcell
PRESIDENT Mary McAleese gave one of her staff members a hug after the funerals of some of the victims of the Omagh bombing - and it has sparked an unprecedented row in her office, a senior aide has claimed.
The 1998 embrace was to thank Bridget Conway for her support for the President at what was a difficult time, both personally and professionally.
Now Ms Conway has begun a court bid to block a disciplinary probe at her office.
Protocol officer Ms Conway claims resentment of her close relationship with the President is the driving force behind the investigation.
Ms Conway, who has worked on Mrs McAleese's staff for 12 years, claims "bogus" disciplinary proceedings have been "contrived" against her by senior personnel to remove her from her post.
Her lawyers are going to the High Court in Dublin to seek an injunction stopping the disciplinary investigation.
Ms Conway is taking her case against the Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the officer in the Department of Defence nominated to conduct a disciplinary hearing.
A spokesperson for the President said: "This is a personnel matter. The President doesn't have any role in the administration of her department and we don't comment on specific individuals."
Sources indicated Ms Conway is a very hard worker and is respected by a lot of her colleagues.
Ms Conway, who lives in Celbridge, Co Kildare, has worked as the President's protocol officer for the last nine years and manages her day to day diary.
Ms Conway has claimed her relationship with one senior official was initially good but began to deteriorate after the President hugged her on her return from the funerals of Omagh bombing victims in 1998.
The hug was witnessed by an official who, it is claimed, asked Ms Conway to explain "all this hugging stuff".
In the legal papers, Ms Conway claims her close relationship was resented in particular by the personnel officer in the office of the secretary of the President, Loughlin Quinn, and secretary general Brian McCarthy.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0994
Published Date: 17-Feb-06
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