A FORMER bank employee has sued Allied Irish Bank for damages for alleged bullying and psychological abuse while she was employed at the bank's branch in Cavan town at a time of "chaos".
Sheila O'Keeffe (48), Billis, Drumalee, Cavan, has taken the proceedings arising out of her employment with the bank between 1998 and 2001. AIB denies the claims in proceedings, which opened yesterday before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan, who was told the case would continue into next term.
Edward Walsh SC, for Ms O'Keeffe, said she began working with the bank in 1979 and in 1999 was offered the position of staff officer in the Cavan branch.
There were difficulties with the branch which was seen as a "black spot" with very low staff morale.
Ms O'Keeffe was a perfectionist who was at that time managing a home and four children with her husband. There was literally "chaos" within the branch and it descended on her, Mr Walsh said.
He said there were staff shortages and an unprecedented level of absenteeism. The myriad of duties Ms O'Keeffe had to deal with resulted in her having to extend her hours of work to 12 hours a day and being on call at weekends.
Counsel said the attitude of Ms O'Keeffe's manager was simply that she should "manage" and that she was ineffectual in terms of "managing". Two permanent staff members had resigned at this time to join the county council.
Ms O'Keeffe lost her vivaciousness and was unable to interreact with her family, counsel said. Her manager was called out of the office on different difficulties and she had to fill in. In March 2000, she had simply "hit rock bottom". She had reported her concerns to a human resources person from Dublin but felt she could not complain about her manager as it be disloyal.
She had attended an outsource counsellor who found that she was suffering from bullying and psychological abuse within the workplace, counsel said.
She took sick leave and had problems with sleeping and had nightmares. The manager had tried to get her back to work and told her on the phone she could not stay out on sick leave indefinitely, counsel added.
AIB denies Ms O'Keeffe was subject to work-related stress.
The hearing continues today.