Bank official wants full pay during legal action

A senior Bank of Ireland official, who claims she was marginalised and “set up to fail” by her employer, is seeking court orders requiring the bank pay her salary pending her full legal action.

Catherine Ryan, who joined Bank of Ireland as deputy head of group performance, initiated proceedings against it last month aimed at preventing her dismissal.

She claims, since being appointed in September to the position at an annual €177,000, her superior redefined her role to a lower position.

Ms Ryan, represented by Frank Callanan SC, wants several orders against BOI including one restraining it taking any steps to give effect to termination of her employment.

In denying Ms Ryan’s claims, BOI says the decision to terminate her employment was performance related and her contract of employment was validly terminated.

‘Disgraceful’

Mark Connaughton SC, for the bank, said claims by Ms Ryan about persons she had worked with in the bank were “nothing short of disgraceful”.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, who observed every fact in the case was strongly disputed, heard submissions on Wednesday on the salary application and will rule on Friday whether to grant an order requiring the bank pay the salary pending the full hearing.

Ms Ryan, a mother of two, from Dundrum, Dublin, claims she gave up employment with Ernst & Young after being given assurances about her employment by BOI.

She alleges the role she was assigned to do was very different from the role she was hired to do and certain tasks had been assigned to her which she had no experience in doing.

‘Isolated’

She claims she has been isolated at work. She also alleges she has been “set up to fail” by her superior who, she claims, was against her being hired by the bank. She was hired at a higher salary than her superior and at the same grade as him, she said.

It is claimed a six-month probation period Ms Ryan had to undergo was used as a “tool” to try to get rid of her after the bank allegedly reneged on its commitments to her.

It is claimed her superior earlier this year issued an allegedly false, malicious and defamatory recommendation regarding her continued employment. Following a review by BOI, she was informed she was being dismissed.

BOI argues Ms Ryan did not meet an acceptable standard of performance during her probationary period to warrant her remaining in the position to which she was recruited. She had not disclosed an ability to perform the duties of a high paying job at a senior level, it also argues. The bank has also rejected criticism levelled by Ms Ryan against members of its staff.

Mr Connaughton said any trust or confidence that might have existed between the parties had been destroyed as a result of the allegations made by Ms Ryan against several BOI staff members.