Foley does not arrive for work at Aer Lingus office

Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Michael Foley, who has been the subject of sexual harassment claims, has not arrived for work this morning at his Dublin Airport office.

Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Michael Foley.

Last Friday Mr Foley was advised by the company's sub-committee he was not required to attend work or perform his duties pending the outcome of the sub-committee's work - which will conclude next Friday.

In a report last week the sub-committee upheld two allegations of sexual harassment against him. When the sub-committee delivers its findings Mr Foley will have 48 hours to appeal the decision. Any appeal would be heard by the sub-committee.

Aer Lingus has empowered the sub-committee with the full authority of its board to take whatever action it decides in light of the report.

The company directors on a new sub-committee examining the report include the RTÉ Authority chairman Mr Patrick Wright; an executive director of the recruitment group Marlborough Mr Des Richardson; and a business consultant Mr Chris Wall.

Mr Foley issued a statement last Thursday saying there were "many inconsistencies" and "conflicting evidence" in the sub-committee's report.

The statement also alleged "arbitrary, selective and subjective use of evidence" arguing "deviation from the substantive elements of the allegations".

The original sub-committee which compiled the report included Dr John Keane, a consultant physician with the Midland Health Authority; and Ms Rose Hynes, who works with AerFi. Both are company directors.

This sub-committee members were appointed in February 2001 after allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Foley by a worker-director at the airline, Ms Joan Loughnane.

A second allegation of sexual harassment against Mr Foley, made in March by an Aer Lingus staff member, was also considered in the report.