Singer's husband was aggressive, says ex-nanny

During a trip to Canada in 1999 with Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan and her husband Don Burton, Mr Burton's behaviour deteriorated, he seemed to be drinking daily and was quite aggressive, the couple's former childminder told the High Court in Dublin.

Ms Joy Fahy said they were accompanied to Canada by Dolores's mother, Ms Eileen O'Riordan, and stayed in a house in a remote area by a lake.

Ms Fahy said Mr Burton drank at all times of the day with friends, played loud music and played with his "toys". The couple brought their child with them on quad-cycles and jet-skis, which was not safe or normal, she added.

The former childminder has taken a High Court action against the couple alleging breach of contract and false imprisonment.

Mr Burton would say absurd things, Ms Fahy said. On one occasion, when she and he had a row, he kept screeching, "You don't get it. My wife is Bono. She is not Larry."

She said the baby's sleeping arrangements became a big issue and on one occasion Dolores handed her the sleeping child and asked that it be given a warm bath. Ms Fahy said she was unhappy about doing this and the child became upset and wanted to go back to sleep. Dolores was upset and said the child would be up early the next morning.

Ms Fahy said she was worried that this was not a normal thing to do and told Ms Eileen O'Riordan, who said, "Don't tell me she is doing that again."

Ms Fahy said she complained about being left on her own with the child in a remote area. She had been told that the Burtons and Eileen O'Riordan would be returning to Ireland.

At one stage Dolores went "ballistic" and started to screech that "Mother is against me. Everybody is against me." She said she knew what was best for her baby and took it from the pram and ran towards the lake. Mr Burton, who had been downstairs drinking with friends, came up and got aggressive, she said. He said, "You are going home. You're f***ing fired and you know jack-shit about horses."

He told her he hired and fired and they (Dolores and he) decided whether she could go or stay. He added that she (Ms Fahy) had a problem getting on with people and from the start had "this haughty attitude". She said he told her she was fired, and would get her passport when he felt she should.

Ms Fahy said she locked herself in her bedroom by putting a suitcase to the door. Eileen O'Riordan came and asked how she was, and said not to come downstairs because Mr Burton was very angry. Later, when he had calmed down, he came to her room and threw her passport across the room.

When Ms Fahy came back to Ireland with Eileen O'Riordan, she learned she was not to be allowed into the house at Kilmallock. It took three weeks to get her belongings in refuse sacks.

Earlier, she said she worked with the couple first in 1997.

When in Canada with them, the first few days were okay but there was never any structure to the day and she did not know when she was off or on. It was strange and they were in an isolated house which was not well equipped for a new baby. She was in a very dark and small bedroom.

During a trip to New York, Mr Burton told her she could go home to Ireland as she was not needed. She was upset. All her belongings were in Canada and she had only gone to New York on vacation. She had no money and no mobile phone. She had sold her car and given up her apartment. She arrived back in Ireland with nothing, and stayed with friends. She had not been paid and had no money. Eventually a friend brought home her belongings from Canada.

After about a month, money was lodged to her bank account in Ireland. She was later approached by the family of Anne Acheson (wife of U2 star Larry Mullen) and started work with them in 1998. That was a fantastic job and the family and children were fantastic.

In February 1999, she got a call from Mr Burton asking her to work for him again. Ms Fahy said she did not entertain the idea. He later offered her perks, such as a lump sum of £10,000 on termination and assured her she would have a deposit on an apartment. Her remuneration was to be £500 net and she would work general nanny's hours, 50 hours a week.

It was an oral contract even though it was her intention to have it in writing. She never got a written contract despite asking about it. The hearing continues.