ARAS AIDE 'FELT HOSTILITY AFTER MCALEESE'S OMAGH EMBRACE'
Aras aide 'felt hostility after McAleese's Omagh embrace'
A TRUSTED aide to President Mary McAleese yesterday began High Court action to halt civil service disciplinary proceedings investigating allegations that she falsified documents.
Bridget Conway, a long-serving protocol officer at Aras an Uachtarain claims the probe is part of a long running effort to force her out.
She alleged that resentment at her close working relationship with the president led to bogus disciplinary proceedings instigated by her colleagues at the Aras.
Ms Conway from Clane Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare, is seeking a High Court injunction to stop the enquiry.
Her lawyer Roderick Horan SC told the court Ms Conway had been cleared of bullying allegations in April 2005 but now faced a further investigation into her work.
He outlined continued hostility towards her since 2001 from colleagues in the office of the president's secretary.
He said it was a deteriorating situation involving continued harassment.
"There has been an inordinate delay putting my client under inordinate stress," he said.
Mr Horan also told the court that since a new investigation had been set up, headed by an official in the Department of Finance, allegations against Ms Conway had been rejigged.
Ms Conway manages the president's diary and drafts speaking notes for her, she had claimed her relationship with one Aras official was good, but deteriorated after Mrs McAleese embraced her on her return from the funerals of victims of the Omagh bombs in August 1988.
The embrace was to thank Ms Conway for her support at such a difficult time.
It was witnessed by a senior official who challenged Ms Conway to explain: "All this hugging stuff."
Counsel for the state Mark Connaughton SC said the court should not block the disciplinary action and he criticised steps taken by Ms Conway to halt it.
"If she has a complaint in that regard she ought to bring it not before the court, not before the media, but before her employer," Mr Connaughton said.
He insisted an adverse finding from the investigation did not mean she would inevitably be removed from the Aras.
And he warned: "These are not trivial allegations, these are allegations that the plaintiff has either herself or through the agency of others, falsified documents.
"These are matters that are required to be dealt with sooner rather than later."
The hearing continues.
A TRUSTED aide to President Mary McAleese yesterday began High Court action to halt civil service disciplinary proceedings investigating allegations that she falsified documents.
Bridget Conway, a long-serving protocol officer at Aras an Uachtarain claims the probe is part of a long running effort to force her out.
She alleged that resentment at her close working relationship with the president led to bogus disciplinary proceedings instigated by her colleagues at the Aras.
Ms Conway from Clane Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare, is seeking a High Court injunction to stop the enquiry.
Her lawyer Roderick Horan SC told the court Ms Conway had been cleared of bullying allegations in April 2005 but now faced a further investigation into her work.
He outlined continued hostility towards her since 2001 from colleagues in the office of the president's secretary.
He said it was a deteriorating situation involving continued harassment.
"There has been an inordinate delay putting my client under inordinate stress," he said.
Mr Horan also told the court that since a new investigation had been set up, headed by an official in the Department of Finance, allegations against Ms Conway had been rejigged.
Ms Conway manages the president's diary and drafts speaking notes for her, she had claimed her relationship with one Aras official was good, but deteriorated after Mrs McAleese embraced her on her return from the funerals of victims of the Omagh bombs in August 1988.
The embrace was to thank Ms Conway for her support at such a difficult time.
It was witnessed by a senior official who challenged Ms Conway to explain: "All this hugging stuff."
Counsel for the state Mark Connaughton SC said the court should not block the disciplinary action and he criticised steps taken by Ms Conway to halt it.
"If she has a complaint in that regard she ought to bring it not before the court, not before the media, but before her employer," Mr Connaughton said.
He insisted an adverse finding from the investigation did not mean she would inevitably be removed from the Aras.
And he warned: "These are not trivial allegations, these are allegations that the plaintiff has either herself or through the agency of others, falsified documents.
"These are matters that are required to be dealt with sooner rather than later."
The hearing continues.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0786
Published Date: 07-Apr-06
Related Images
