Presidential aide's court challenge adjourned

A High Court challenge to halt civil service disciplinary action against a long serving aide of President Mary McAleese was today adjourned.

Protocol officer and speech writer for the President, Bridget Conway, is attempting to secure an injunction to stop the investigation, claiming it is bogus.

Miss Conway, in a legal submission, has alleged the probe was instigated as a direct result of her close working relationship with President McAleese and as part of moves to have her removed from her role at Aras an Uachtarain.

She said relationships with her superiors in the Office of the President turned sour after Mrs McAleese hugged her on her return from funerals of the Omagh bomb victims in 1998.

Miss Conway has alleged bullying, plotting and resentment of the relationship was rife at the Aras.

The case, due for hearing in front of Mr Justice Liam McKechnie, is due up again on March 6.