A woman who claimed she was subjected to sexual assaults on a regular basis while working at Craft Cleaners in Dublin's Baggot Street today agreed an undisclosed settlement of her High Court action for damages.
Karen Murphy (40), who worked as a dry cleaning operative at Craft Cleaners for 19 years, had claimed that Danny Hoey, the owner, had touched her on her arms, shoulders and buttocks.
She also claimed he had touched her from behind and had put his hand between her legs and attempted to undo her jeans.
Ms Murphy, a mother-of-three who now lives in Wicklow, sued Mr Hoey a business man of Ailesbury Road, Dublin and Craft Cleaners of Upper Baggot Street.
The defendants denied any assaults took place or that Ms Murphy was subjected to intimidation or abuse of either a physical or sexual nature.
The case opened earlier this month but, after several hours of talks yesterday between legal teams on both sides, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan was told the matter could be struck out.
It is believed the action was settled on terms including an undisclosed sum and a confidentiality clause. Neither Ms Murphy or Mr Hoey would comment as they left the High Court.
Ms Murphy had claimed damages for personal injuries as a result of alleged sexual assault and assault and battery allegedly perpetrated by Mr Hoey and damages for wrongful dismissal against Craft Cleaners.
She was a young impressionable girl of 14 years of age with limited education and limited experience of the world when she began working at Craft, it was claimed.
From the outset of her employment, she alleged she was, subjected to inappropriate personal contact at the hands of Mr Hoey without her consent. The alleged conduct continued until she left the company in 1999.
The alleged assaults included, Ms Murphy claimed, Mr Hoey putting his nose to her body and making comments about the smell of her body; putting his hands inside her trousers and touching her legs while driving her and other employees home.
She also alleged the inappropriate personal contact included fondling her buttocks and making suggestive comments to her to the effect that she should go downstairs in the premises to be fondled, that she should enjoy the experience and that it was all a bit of fun.
Ms Murphy alleged Mr Hoey would frequently walk through the premises commenting that he was "feeling randy" and asking: "Who's next for a feel?".
The conduct, it was alleged, became a feature of employment with Craft Cleaners.