ONE of the country's leading charities is to let six of its staff go and has disclosed that it is facing a case for unfair dismissal.

Amnesty International Ireland confirmed that the economic crisis had played havoc with its finances but said remaining staff would not be asked to take a pay cut.

The group's chief executive, Colm O'Gorman, said his salary has increased by just 3.5% since his appointment in February 2008 and that his pay would not be reduced.

The organisation said it would not confirm exactly what O'Gorman's salary is but sources told the Sunday Tribune it was in excess of €80,000 a year.

Amnesty Ireland said losses had been recorded in 2008 and 2009 and that a similar situation was expected this year.

The organisation confirmed that five full-time positions will be made redundant as part of a "structural review" of the entire organisation.

"The sub-committee concluded that salary levels are currently set at an appropriate level and seeking to achieve savings via reductions in salaries would not be effective or appropriate," Amnesty said.

"Unfortunately, this decision means that six members of staff (four full-time and two part-time) will be made redundant. Another position is expected to be outsourced. This should in no way be interpreted as a comment on the performance, capabilities or competence of the current post-holders, all of whom have made tremendous contributions to the organisation."

Pay cuts will not be enforced on existing staff, including O'Gorman, who is best known for his campaign against clerical sex abuse.

A statement from the group said: "It is Amnesty International's policy not to comment on specific salary levels for any member of staff. As noted earlier, the subcommittee of the executive committee decided that salary levels are currently set at an appropriate level."

Amnesty International Ireland said a case of unfair dismissal was ongoing against the organisation following the closure of an arm of the group, Amnesty Trading.

A statement said: "This company was responsible for retail outlets in Dublin and Galway, as well as some online trading. In recent years Amnesty Trading was unable to become profitable despite tremendous efforts by the staff involved."

Operations in Dublin ceased in January 2009 while a retail outlet in Galway was transferred to a private operator in October 2009.

"Regrettably, this led to the loss of three jobs. The organisation is currently engaged in a case before the Employment Appeals Tribunal with one of those former members of staff. As this case is currently ongoing, we are not in a position to comment further," the organisation explained.

O'Gorman said the past two years had been a very difficult time for Amnesty International in Ireland but he added that staff had shown they were committed to the organisation's "vision and mission".

He said: "Staff have demonstrated this with their willingness to work to achieve substantial savings in non-staff costs, and in agreeing to suspend payments they were due in 2009.

"For those of our colleagues who have lost, or are about to lose, their jobs it is a traumatic experience, made all the harder because of their loyalty to what Amnesty International stands for."

He said staff and unions had been kept informed of developments as they happened.

"In all things, we have made every effort to ensure staff are supported through these changes, and to maintain an open, honest, and transparent dialogue with their representatives," O'Gorman said.

Amnesty said its operations here relied entirely on 'Irish section income', which had been hit hard by a fall in large donations.

In 2008, €374,000 was received in once-off donations; this fell to €203,000 last year. The group said it now expected just half that amount in 2010. Other income has also fallen with direct mail appeals cut in half from €420,000 to just €194,000 in 2009.

Money raised through special events also fell by more than 50% to €185,000 and the organisation cannot accept state funding to "maintain... independence".