Courts / Dublin / Report

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh's sexual harassment claim against RTÉ delayed due to Covid

Date
2022-06-29

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh's sexual harassment claim against RTÉ at the Workplace Relations Commission has been adjourned to September 8th because several key defence witnesses have contracted Covid‑19. The hearing, originally scheduled for 29 June at Lansdowne House, Dublin 4, was postponed after only the legal teams of both parties appeared. Ms Ní Chofaigh alleges gender discrimination through sexual harassment in July 2019 and subsequent victimisation, claims denied by RTÉ. Mairead McKenna SC, representing RTÉ, applied for the adjournment citing the witnesses' illness, and the request was accepted by the adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill. O'Neill also directed the press not to name any witnesses and to exclude the public from the hearing room when evidence about an alleged incident at a hotel photoshoot in July 2019 is presented. The case is expected to last four days, possibly a fifth, with Ms Ní Chofaigh's primary evidence estimated at three to four hours.