Fine Gael TD Seán Conlan denies secretary dismissed unfairly

A former secretary to Seán Conlan has spoken of her upset at what she says was “intimidation” and “harassment” on the part of Fine Gael TD, who is based in Ballybay, Co Monaghan.

Cathy Shevlin is claiming unfair dismissal after her working relationship with Mr Conlon and his parliamentary assistant Sarah Comiskey broke down. Ms Shevlin said she was unfairly accused of giving general election tallies to a local councillor in Co Monaghan in contravention of Mr Conlan’s instructions.

She claimed she was also accused of posting derogatory information about the TD on Facebook, and of attempting to have a Fine Gael meeting declared null and void.

She denied she had given the election tallies to another party member, although as a party officer she would have been entitled to do so.

She said the remark on Facebook was about promising to attend meetings and failing to do so, but she said it related to herself, and not Mr Conlan.

She said she felt unfairly treated when the Fine Gael whip’s office in Leinster House contacted her looking for Mr Conlan, and she was later blamed by the TD for not reaching him.

Personal relationship

Ms Shevlin told the tribunal she disagreed with Ms Comiskey on the running of Mr Conlan’s office and wrote to Ms Comiskey in September 2012, outlining their individual responsibilities. She said she also wrote to Mr Conlan about the difficulties and referred to his personal relationship with Ms Comiskey.

Ms Shevlin said within days Mr Conlan arrived in the Ballybay constituency office and ordered her and Ms Comiskey into his office for a meeting.

She said Mr Conlan had sat in front of her and Ms Comiskey had sat six feet behind her. Mr Conlan had said he was recording the meeting and he read out a formal, legalistic- sounding letter from Ms Comiskey, accusing her of defamation.

Ms Shevlin said she was aware Ms Comiskey and Mr Conlan were legally qualified while she was not and she became intimidated and upset. She said Mr Conlan had locked the outer door and had initially refused to let her out. She said she begged to be let out, then drove to a local park in tears and phoned her husband.

Certified as sick

Ms Shevlin said she was subsequently certified as sick and unable to work or attend further meetings with Mr Conlan, and he had dismissed her by letter in March 2012.

Oisín Quinn SC, for Mr Conlan, told the tribunal it was unlikely Ms Shevlin had been writing about herself on Facebook. He said it was vital that a TD could rely on his secretary but in fact Mr Conlan was being undermined.

Mr Quinn said it was remarkable that the only time the allegation of intimidation and harassment had been made was on the first day of the tribunal hearing and he accused her of attempting to embarrass Mr Conlan through the media.

The tribunal will issue its determination in due course.