The case of an Irish scholar who claimed she was unfairly dismissed by University College, Dublin, in 1996 has been resolved. Dr Briona Nic Dhiarmada reached a private settlement with the college after her case was adjourned at the Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday.
It is thought that the college has agreed to pay her significant compensation although the terms are being kept confidential, by agreement between the two sides.
Earlier yesterday the head of her department at UCD, Dr Seosamh Watson, said that Dr Nic Dhiarmada had not had her contract renewed because her work had been reallocated among other staff.
She had applied for a new position teaching linguistics.
But this had gone to an external applicant because Dr Watson did not consider her suitably qualified.
Dr Nic Dhiarmada was employed for four years on a series of contracts by UCD. She is an Irish scholar with a doctorate in modern Irish literature.
When Dr Nic Dhiarmada's union representative, Ms Patricia King of SIPTU, asked if, in all the circumstances, she had been treated fairly, Dr Watson said: "I feel someone who works for four years in college should either get a job or should not have worked for four years in college".
Pressed by Ms King on whether Dr Nic Dhiarmada had been fairly treated, Dr Watson said: "I would think no, in this case."
Later the hearing was adjourned and both sides returned to announce an amicable settlement had been reached.
A condition of the settlement was that the terms offered by the UCD would remain confidential.