Catering assistant settles bullying case against chefs

A CATERING assistant who alleged she was assaulted, bullied and harassed at work has settled a damages claim of €38,000 for an undisclosed sum in the Circuit Civil court.

Angela Young, 61, claimed in a civil bill that, between 2003 and 2005, she had been sexually assaulted by one chef and physically assaulted by another chef in the canteen at Tesco, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin.

Ms Young, of Cushlawn Park, Killinarden, Tallaght, alleged Chef A had approached her with a sausage sticking out of his trousers in a sexual gesture. On another occasion, he had changed his clothing in front of her to embarrass her and once walked towards her wearing only his underpants.

She claimed her uniform hat had been grabbed from her head by Chef A and filled with whipped cream before being pushed back on her head. Chef A had laughed at her and then pushed whipped cream down her bra.

Ms Young claimed Chef B on another occasion grabbed a plate from her hand, smashed it on the floor and ordered her to clean it up. After she had objected to doing so he had sworn at her, calling her a “white whore” and “an Irish bitch”.

He had then grabbed her arm and punched her.

Ms Young claimed she had to undergo medical treatment for depression and had been referred to counselling.

Barrister John Nolan told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Matthew Deery that Ms Young had settled her claim against canteen operators Eurest, which trades as Compass Catering Services Ltd, of Park West Business Park, Dublin, and Tesco Ireland Ltd. Mr Nolan said the defendants had agreed to pay her costs and the case could be struck out.

Both companies, represented by barrister David Richardson, denied the allegations. They had conducted a full investigation during which, they claimed, Ms Young had reformulated her claims of sexual harassment as inappropriate behaviour.