€30k damages for accounts assistant from Dublin

An accounts assistant told a judge that when she refused to carry out “illegal” tasks, her manager told her to “just do the fucking job”.

Isabella Buchta, aged 35, who brought a personal injuries claim against ex-manager Mark Fisher and former employer Global Property Care Ltd, was awarded €30,000 damages.

She told the Circuit Civil Court she suffered psychological injuries after having been regularly shouted at and verbally abused by Mr Fisher. She said Fisher harassed and bullied her for almost two years.

Barrister John Moher said Ms Buchta had obtained a judgment in default of appearance against Mr Fisher and the company and today’s case was an assessment of damages only.

Buchta told Judge James O’Donohoe that after staff at the property management firm, at Unit 14, Oak Road Business Park, Nangor Rd, Dublin, were let go in August 2008, she was assigned an excessive volume of work.

She claimed Mr Fisher asked her to perform “illegal” tasks which involved raising invoices and when she refused to, he told her to “just do the fucking job”.

Ms Buchta, of Stratton Grove, Adamstown, Co Dublin, claimed she was regularly humiliated and degraded by Fisher. She was subjected to verbal abuse, bullying, intimidation, and harassment when she was unable to perform tasks.

She told the court the company had been in financial difficulties and she had been required to take calls from creditors.

She alleged that despite her complaints, the company failed to take any adequate steps. She had needed to take several months of sick leave and had received psychological intervention.

She said she was dismissed in December 2010 and was later awarded €7,000 compensation by the Employment Appeals Tribunal for unfair dismissal.

Judge O’Donohoe heard she had a history of psychological condition which had been aggravated by the “intolerable work conditions” and that she still experienced disabling anxiety and depressive symptoms. He awarded her €30,000 damages along with her legal costs.