State agency chief executive ‘pestered’ personnel boss for assurances on top job, WRC hears

A former head of human resources at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) claims she was persistently pressured by the agency's former chief executive to provide assurances that he could return to a previous position upon the conclusion of his term. Róisín Bradley, the former HR head, is expected to testify that the ex-CEO, Francis O’Donnell, met her in a hotel car park and presented her with a pre-prepared letter to sign, which would secure his right of return to a regional director role.

“

Nobody pesters Róisín Bradley. We often disagreed on issues, fundamentally, but had to find a way to work together ... That’s a normal relationship to have at a senior management level. Róisín had a strong personality.

However, O’Donnell has vehemently denied these allegations. During the fifth day of the employment tribunal hearing, he stated that he rejected such claims outright, asserting they were incorrect. He argued that if Bradley held such beliefs, she could have raised them with the board. O’Donnell characterized his relationship with Bradley as normal for senior management, acknowledging disagreements but emphasizing the need to work together. He described Bradley as a high performer and recalled authorizing her to work from abroad on one occasion, stating there was nothing to support her claims and that they were never documented or witnessed by others at IFI.

“

If Róisín Bradley was of that belief, it was open [to her] to say that to the board.

O’Donnell, who was appointed IFI chief executive in 2020 on a five-year contract, previously held a permanent position as a river basin director. He maintains that Bradley assured him, through conversations and correspondence, that he had not resigned from his previous post and could return later. Bradley is expected to testify that O’Donnell specifically requested a private meeting in an Athlone hotel car park to sign the document guaranteeing his return to his earlier position.

“

That is not true.

O’Donnell refuted this account, stating, "That is not true." Counsel for IFI, Tiernan Lowey, also indicated that another senior employee, Suzanne Campion, would testify that Bradley had shared her concerns with her about O’Donnell providing the pre-prepared letter and had even photographed it. O’Donnell denied preparing any such document, and questioned whether IFI could provide logs of any alleged calls or texts from him to Bradley seeking written assurances.

“

[It was] never documented and I don’t think there’s anyone at IFI that ever witnessed that. I absolutely refute that.