Lesley Richardson (21) brought a case against her former employers, Avant Shipping Agencies Ltd, saying their attitude changed towards her when she became pregnant, culminating in a bullying scene at a work Christmas party.

Richardson, from Tullyallen, Co Louth, told the tribunal she started work as a receptionist with Avant Shipping Agencies in September 2005 and was "very happy" working there. However, she said things changed when she told them in February 2006 that she was pregnant with her first child.

"Mr Keane [her employer] didn't even congratulate me;

his whole attitude towards me changed, " she told the tribunal, adding that when she was nearly seven months pregnant, he asked her to carry two plastic bags containing staff uniforms up two flights of stairs.

Richardson went on maternity leave in June 2006 and, after the birth of her son, Darragh, decided to take extended leave until February 2007.

During this time, she was invited to and attended the company Christmas party in January, where she said she was verbally abused by one of the company's shareholders, Roy Smith.

She told the tribunal Smith called her a "floozie", a "stayat-home mother" and referred to her as "only a woman." "He told me I knew my dates to a tee, " she said, referring to her pregnancy.

"And then he told me to get the f*** out of there." She said a female colleague laughed at her along with Smith and she and her partner left the party soon afterwards.

David Keane, the major shareholder of Avant Shipping Agencies, told the tribunal his company denied Richardson had been unfairly dismissed. He said he had not been present on the night of the verbal abuse but he had attempted to contact Richardson early in the week following the incident.

"If I had been there, this would never have happened, " he said. "It was a case of too much drink taken and if I had been there, the bar would have been closed earlier."

Richardson, he said, was "very good at her job" and prior to the Christmas party he had fully expected her to return to work in February.

He denied ever having changed his attitude towards her pregnancy and said he didn't offer his congratulations because he did not normally get too involved in his employees' personal lives.

The tribunal heard that the company had a grievance procedure and that Richardson had never made a complaint to her employers in relation to her claims. Keane said he told Richardson to have the plastic bags containing the uniforms removed but said he did not mean she should move them herself.

"I'm disappointed to think that no one would come to me if they had a problem, " he said. "Personally, from my point of view, I think she should have complained."

He wrote several letters to Richardson requesting a meeting, he said, but heard back only through her solicitor.

Roy Smith was remorseful and willing to apologise for his behaviour, Keane said.

When pressed however, he admitted Smith had not apologised by correspondence and had not been disciplined by the company for his actions.

The employment appeals tribunal is expected to deliver its ruling in the case later this month.