An arrangement under which a former political correspondent of the Evening Herald could work from home from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. was a personal arrangement made between the journalist and the paper's then editor, the group managing editor of Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd told the High Court yesterday.
Mr Michael Roche said that was his view at all times of the arrangement between Ms Mairead Carey and Mr Paul Drury.
He was giving evidence in an action by Ms Carey against Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd for alleged breach of contract and/or wrongful dismissal arising from her appointment as political correspondent of the Herald in late 1999. She held the post for six months to April 2000.
Evidence in the case concluded yesterday, and it was adjourned to Thursday when Mr Justice Gilligan will hear legal submissions from both sides. The judge indicated he would reserve judgment at the close of the submissions.
Ms Carey, who had been a political correspondent with Ireland on Sunday, was contacted about moving to the Herald by Mr Drury, then editor. Just after she began work, Mr Drury's employment terminated.
Yesterday, Mr Roche said Mr Drury had come to him after having discussions with Ms Carey about taking the Herald job. Mr Drury asked if Mr Roche would countenance a salary for her above Grade 5, and he agreed.
Ms Carey's working arrangements did not arise for a couple of days. Mr Drury said Ms Carey had childminding difficulties and wanted to work from home.
Mr Roche said he expressed serious reservations about Ms Carey working from home. He was aware there were a lot of personal arrangements between editors and staff not set in stone. If Mr Drury was happy the arrangement would work, Mr Roche was reasonably happy.
Cross-examined by Mr John Gibbons SC, for Ms Carey, Mr Roche said he did not think Mr Drury had told him that if they did not agree to the working arrangement Ms Carey would not come to the Herald.
Earlier, Mr Gerry O'Regan, who succeeded Mr Drury as editor in November 1999, said he learned of Ms Carey's working arrangement within a couple of days of taking up his position. He did not see it as a feasible proposition for an evening newspaper but decided to see how it operated and to review it. He had never discussed with Mr Drury whether the arrangement for Ms Carey was an ad hoc one.
Mr Paul Dunne, group news editor with Independent Newspapers, said he told Ms Carey the newspaper would "run with" the arrangement for her working from home but expressed the reservation that the new editor may want to change it. Mr O'Regan was happy to go along with the arrangement to see if it would work out.
On January 21st, 2000, Mr Dunne said he wrote to Ms Carey stating the arrangement was not working and asking if she would make childcare arrangements. He got no response.