Foley puts case to board subcommittee

Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Michael Foley made a verbal presentation yesterday to a board subcommittee assessing a report which found him guilty of sexual harassment.

It is understood that neither Mr Foley nor the subcommittee had legal representation at the meeting, which is believed to have lasted up to two hours. On Friday, Mr Foley submitted a lengthy document in response to certain questions asked of him by the subcommittee. Mr Foley has always protested innocence against the complaints by two female staff members.

However, the High Court has heard that the subcommittee is bound to accept the findings of a separate investigating subcommittee, which upheld two complaints of harassment made against Mr Foley.

At hearings in which Mr Foley failed to secure an injunction blocking Aer Lingus from taking disciplinary action, he said he greatly feared his dismissal was imminent.

Chaired by Mr Paddy Wright, the former Smurfit executive who is also chairman of RTE, the subcommittee can act with the full authority of the Aer Lingus board without referring back to it.

The other members of the subcommittee are Mr Des Richardson, a director of the Marlborough recruitment group, and Mr Chris Wall, a business consultant. Both are close to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.

It was not clear last night whether Mr Foley or the subcommittee would seek a further meeting. Nor was it clear when the subcommittee planned to deliver its sanction on Foley.

It was asked to consider what action was required in the light of the report of the investigating subcommittee.

Its inquiry followed a complaint in February by a SIPTU worker-director, Ms Joan Loughnane, and another by Mr Foley's former personal assistant, Ms Anne Lawlor.

He alleged the Aer Lingus chairman Mr Bernie Cahill had conspired in the original investigation, claims Mr Cahill denied.

Mr Foley also alleged a conspiracy to "frame" him, though Aer Lingus said he produced no evidence of that.

The members of the initial investigating subcommittee were Aer Lingus directors Dr John Keane, a physician with the Midland Health Board, and Ms Rose Hynes, a solicitor who works for the AerFi, the former GPA.