Irish Centre pays out ?50,000 for unfair dismissal

THE FIRST-ever female head of a leading London-Irish charity has won almost STG50,000 in compensation after she suffered a sustained campaign of sex discrimination and bullying.

Margaret Murnane, 48, was appointed director of the London Irish Centre, an Irish government-funded charity in September 2004.

All previous directors had been male priests.

Ms Murnane, who is originally from Tipperary but now lives in Vauxhall, south London, successfully sued the trustees for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The tribunal awarded her STG46,537 for financial loss, injury to feelings, aggravated damages and personal injury.

But speaking outside the tribunal she said: ?It has cost me money to clear my name but I have been vindicated and the tribunal?s decision has put paid to the nasty, malicious rumours that have been put out about me and all the gossip circulating.

?It was glaringly obvious from early on that the centre just was not ready to have a woman in charge.

?I have suffered depression and have been under great strain throughout this whole tribunal process. I am just so relieved it is all over.?

Ms Murnane was tasked with making sweeping changes to make the charity more commercial.

But Central London Employment Tribunal heard that senior staff could not accept a woman had been put in charge.

The tribunal found that co-ordinator of welfare services John Twomey resented her appointment ? having previously enjoyed a free reign under the priests.

It found that the former solicitor had been ?angry, intimidating, condescending and sarcastic? towards her from the outset, undermining her at every opportunity and raising ?vindictive? complaints about her performance, including false claims that she had been drunk at work.

Margaret Murnane was later sacked by the charity?s trustees after her teenage son made calls to sex chat lines on her work phone.

The tribunal found they made much of the ?minor issue? of the antics of her 17-yearold son, who also called his girlfriend in Colombia on the office phone.

When she refused to quit, they suspended and then fired her from her STG40,000-plus post at the centre in Camden, north London in May 2006.

Giving evidence to the tribunal Mr Twomey claimed Murnane had been ?frosty? towards him and to blame for their awkward relationship.

He and the trustees strongly denied discriminating against her and argued she had been dismissed rightly.

But the panel ruled there ?was a natural deference by the staff, users, trustees and committees towards a male priest and a lack of such natural deference and possibly hostility to a female lay director.?

It ruled that Mr Twomey, who joined the centre in 1997, bullied Ms Murnane, sent her ?vitriolic and almost abusive? letters and excluded her from important meetings and decisions.

The panel also voiced concern that the trustees had not yet learned by their mistakes.

It noted: ?They have appointed two new male trustees from the traditional constituency rather than perhaps drawing from a wider Irish community so that female trustees might be persuaded to come forward.?

London Irish Centre director Peter Hammond said the trustees were disappointed to note the tribunal?s findings and award, but accepted that the charity is already considering the details of criticisms made and will make appropriate changes where necessary.

He said: ?Throughout this regrettable affair the trustees acted in good faith to protect the interests of the charity and of its beneficiaries and with the benefit of professional advice.

?The trustees are gratified that the busy welfare, social and cultural activities of the centre have remained strong and indeed have grown through this difficult period.

?Much credit is owed for this to the dedication of the centre?s management and staff and for the ongoing support of the community.?