THE SENDING of e-mails containing inappropriate images was “endemic” among staff in a subsidiary of Bank of Ireland, the Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday.
Sarah Rooney (25), Ballybrack, Co Dublin, and Sarah Murray (25), Glasthule, Co Dublin, claim they were unfairly dismissed from ICS Building Society in 2009 for taking part in the practice.
Bank of Ireland has argued that the two circulated “extreme and revolting pornography” and were guilty of “multiple breaches” of policy and gross misconduct.
Kevin D’Arcy, for the claimants, said a number of other staff, some of whom were more senior, were not disciplined to the same extent as his clients for sending similar e-mails. He argued that the bank’s internet and e-mail policy had not been communicated effectively to staff and they did not understand they could be fired for sending such e-mails as it was “endemic” in the office.
Larry O’Gara, of the bank’s human resources department, denied the sending of such e-mails was endemic and denied there was a cultural problem of e-mail abuse in the firm. The case continues.
