Day 174 - 17 Oct 95 - Page 52


     
     1        autumn of 1979, Anne Holmes' position of lobby hostess at
     2        the Grafton Street restaurant was abolished.  Do you
     3        remember saying that?
     4        A.  Yes, I do.
     5
     6   Q.   Can you tell me what was the reason why that post at the
     7        Grafton Street restaurant was abolished?
     8        A.  It was abolished because we had a slow down in
     9        business, and the position was abolished because it was not
    10        proving to be any value to us.
    11
    12   Q.   Were lobby hostesses -- and I think we know this, actually,
    13        but just to say from your recollection -- was a lobby
    14        hostess paid more than an ordinary crew member?
    15        A.  Yes, they were.  They got an increase in rate.  The
    16        increase, I cannot recall how much, but there was an
    17        increase.
    18
    19   Q.   If you have that pink file open, can you turn backwards in
    20        it, please, to page 1009, where you should find an
    21        affidavit.  I am afraid it is undated, but I can tell you
    22        that it is certainly before 9th April 1979, because it is
    23        referred to in the order of the court on 9th April 1979, on
    24        page 1023.  No need to look at that.  This is an affidavit
    25        apparently by a lady called Fiona O'Cleary; is that right?
    26        A.  Yes, that is correct -- Nacleary.
    27
    28   Q.   It says in the introduction to the affidavit:"I Fiona
    29        Nacleary of 62 Upper O'Connell Street in the city of
    30        Dublin, lobby hostess", and so on and so forth.  It
    31        says: "I am employed by the Plaintiff Company at its
    32        premises at Upper O'Connell Street."
    33        A.  Yes, that is correct.
    34
    35   Q.   Is it right that at this date at the O'Connell Street
    36        restaurant the lobby hostess was Fiona Nacleary?
    37        A.  Yes.
    38
    39   Q.   What happened to her post in the course of this part from
    40        here on in 1979?
    41        A.  I cannot tell you.  All I can tell you is that we
    42        abolished the position of hostess.
    43
    44   Q.   Was Fiona Nacleary's post also abolished?
    45        A.  Yes.
    46
    47   Q.   What happened to her?  Did she stay with the Company, or
    48        did she leave, or what happened?  She was not one of the
    49        strikers; we know that.
    50        A.  From memory, having re-read these documents, she left 
    51        the Company to go and study nursing. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Study nursing?
    54        A.  Study nursing.
    55
    56   Q.   Do you remember whether her post as lobby hostess was
    57        abolished at about the same time as Anne Holmes' at
    58        Grafton Street?
    59        A.  I cannot recall the exact date, but I believe it was
    60        earlier in the summer.

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