A UNIVERSITY lecturer who is in dispute with DCU called the president of the university “a person without honour” and referred separately to three university colleagues as “criminal”, “traitor” and “idiot” in his blog, the Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday.
Dr Sean O’Nuallain was a lecturer in computing at the university from 1987 until the dispute arose in 2002. He subsequently set up the University Blog on Academic Tenure in Ireland.
On the blog, Dr O’Nuallain described DCU president Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski as a “liar” and a “person without honour”. Prof Prondzynski told the tribunal the blog was littered with xenophobic and racist comments about him.
The tribunal heard that Dr O’Nuallain had also criticised other colleagues in the blog.
Prof Prondzynski said that, as far as he was aware, Dr O’Nuaillain had resigned in his position due to an extended absence from the university.
However, Padraic Lyons, counsel for Dr O’Nuallain, put it to Prof Prondzynski that he had entered into a disciplinary action against him as per letters sent to Dr O’Nuallain in early 2002.
He said that Prof Prondzynski was aware of Dr O’Nuallain’s position due to letters sent by Siptu to the president on his behalf which indicated his intention to remain in employment at the university.
Prof Prondzynski denied this, claiming that Dr O’Nuallain had failed to respond to numerous correspondences from him.
He said that Dr O’Nuallain had effectively repudiated his position. Dr O’Nuallain denies these claims.
The hearing continues.