Deirdre Malone

The woman alleged that, following a complaint of sexual harassment she made against the director of her former employer, the institution stopped engaging her in a freelance capacity, ending more than two decades of employment.

By the time the matter was listed for hearing before the WRC, it had been over four years since her complaint of sexual harassment, and the institution had not engaged her in that time.

Following negotiations between the parties, the woman agreed to settle the claim against her former employer on terms favourable to her.

In a statement, the woman said: “Freelance workers have few rights against employers and I was at a loss as to how to respond to the adverse treatment I received.

“I am extremely fortunate that IHREC agreed to take on my case and acted on my behalf always with great kindness towards me personally and with great diligence on my behalf. I would encourage anyone in a similar situation to contact them.”

Deirdre Malone, director of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, said: “People have the right to make a lawful complaint without being victimised for doing so.

“Cases like these prove that there are remedies for people who speak out about sexual harassment and suffer negative consequences as a result. I hope this woman’s example will encourage others to speak up, knowing that there will be someone there to listen.”