Ex-parish worker ‘faces injunction over protest’

Siptu has claimed a former employee of the Diocese of Galway has been threatened with a legal injunction over plans to mount a protest outside a church on Sunday.

The union says Anne Marie Horan is protesting because she was made redundant after complaining about her treatment while working in Bearna parish.

It claims she was bullied in the workplace, that she had a change in her job title, and had duties taken from her.

Siptu sector organiser, Adrian Kane, said the union sought a meeting with the parish priest to have Ms Horan reinstated and have the complaint investigated but he “refused to countenance this proposal”.

“Siptu then wrote to the Bishop of Galway, Martin Drennan, seeking his intervention but regrettably the bishop has refused to intervene. Instead Siptu has received numerous letters from solicitors representing the Church threatening an injunction if a protest… this Sunday goes ahead.”

The union said Ms Horan will press ahead with the protest.

Neither the Bearna Parish nor the Catholic Communications Office were available for comment last night.