A legal action by a manager at the Irish National Stud over alleged bullying of her after she ended an alleged affair with former INS CEO John Clarke two years ago has been further adjourned at the High Court.
It is hoped the action brought by Julie Lynch will be heard in October or November next, Mr Justice Roderick Murphy was told yesterday. However, a number of issues relating to discovery of documents had yet to be agreed, the court heard.
The judge adjourned the discovery issues for another week to give the parties an opportunity to resolve them. A date for the full hearing will be fixed later.
Last March, the Irish National Stud Company agreed a settlement of injunction proceedings brought by Ms Lynch, Stallions Nominations Manager with the INS, in which she sought orders restraining the INS placing her on medical leave or being vacated from a house provided as part of her job.
The injunctions were sought pending the outcome of her full action but last March the court was told the sides had come to an arrangement and the injunction proceedings were struck out.
Under the agreed arrangement, Ms Lynch was to go on paid sick leave and could return to work when certified medically fit to do so or when the full action was determined by the court. She was also permitted remain in her house but was not to enter upon the stud or involve herself in its business.
Ms Lynch began her employment at the INS in 2006 and was later promoted to Stallion Nominations Manager which involved matching the stud's stallions with customers' mares.
In her action, she alleges she commenced an affair with Mr Clarke in 2006 but decided to end the relationship in April 2008. After this, she claims, Mr Clarke engaged in a campaign of intimidation, bullying and harassment against her.
She claims Mr Clarke made her life hell after she ended their affair. She also alleges he had, between August and October 2008, sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions.
In opposing the injunction application, the INS said she was put on sick leave for medical reasons and can return to work when medically certified to do so. It also denied it had done nothing about Ms Lynch's allegations and said it had taken them very seriously and had directed an investigation into them.
The INS also said allegations of sexual assault were not previously put to them or Mr Clarke and he was not a party to the proceedings and therefore not in a position to respond to the allegations. The INS also claimed Ms Lynch had sent inappropriate communications to INS staff and customers.
Ms Lynch has also initiated separate personal injury proceedings over her alleged treatment.