Chef: I was offered €1k to drop case after fall

A Polish chef who worked for leading publican Charlie Chawke claimed that she was offered €1,150 to drop a compensation claim after she slipped when working in Mr Chawke’s old family pub in Adare, a court heard.

The pub, which trades under Mr Chawke’s late father’s name, Bill Chawke’s, is one of a chain owned by Mr Chawke and the premises where he pulled his first pint.

Anna Katarzyna Bialoszewska, 35, a married mother of two, yesterday brought a claim for damages before Limerick Circuit Civil Court.

She said there was a big party booked for the pub, located at Rathkeale Rd, Adare, on April 30, 2013, and was asked to work that night. When she got to the pub, she logged on for duty.

During the evening she went into a hallway and slipped on water which had leaked from a cold room.

There was no yellow sign in place to warn her of the water. She hurt her leg and was still in pain.

When there was a water spillage it was the practice to place a yellow warning sign at the scene.

She was alone when she had the fall and was able to get up without assistance. Later, she reported the fall to her manager in the pub.

While she went to work the following day, the pain prevented her going to work the next day and she went to her GP who told her she could only return to work for reduced hours and had to use crutches.

Ms Bialoszewska claimed she was informed by bar management that she could only come back if she signed a form agreeing not to pursue a compensation claim for the fall and accept a payment of just over €1,100.

When she would not agree to sign the form, she was told the pub did not have hours for her. She resigned from the pub’s employment in November 2013.

Murray Johnson, counsel for the pub, informed Judge James O’Donohue there were separate unfair dismissal proceedings involving the pub and the plaintiff.

Following an adjournment, Mr Johnson said that the claim for compensation had been settled and Judge O’Donohue granted an order for Circuit Court costs.