THE Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, the Very Revd
Dermot Dunne, has been brought before an employment appeals
tribunal by the cathedral's former musical director, Judy Martin,
who alleged that she had been bullied, physically intimidated, and
frightened by him in 2008.
She resigned her post in 2011, and
returned to live in England; she has instituted a claim for
constructive dismissal. The Dean denies the allegations.
Ms Martin told the tribunal last week
that she found Dean Dunne "quite frightening" at a meeting, and was
unable to understand the reasons for his "irrational outburst", but
she believed that he felt that the choir was eclipsing events at
the cathedral.
She has claimed that she was subjected
to "persistent, serious bullying" by the Dean. There were "constant
anti-English references", she said, and she was ignored and
patronised.
She developed shoulder and back pain,
which worsened, and she took sick leave in April 2009. In early
2010, Ms Martin said that she was accused of gross misconduct for
revealing confidential information, after she had discussed with
the choir the consequences that financial cuts might have. She
resigned her post in January 2011.
When cross-examined, Ms Martin
admitted to having written to a former dean, the late Desmond
Harman, on two occasions, intimating that she was considering her
position. Michael McNamee, for the Dean, asked her why, if having
felt intimidated at the 2008 meeting, she had not approached him
directly about his behaviour. Ms Martin said she thought that they
would be able to continue to work together, and that all would be
fine.
Mr McNamee put it to Ms Martin that a
letter she wrote to the Dean, after further problems between the
two, was rambling, subjective, and very personal. The letter had
taken the Dean by surprise, and overwhelmed him by its content,
tone, and manner.
Ms Martin's claims that the Dean
authorised her to discuss options for funding costs would be denied
by Dean Dunne, he said.
The tribunal has adjourned, and will
continue in January.