Ray Hadley called a producer’s girlfriend a “curry muncher” and tried to ensure an Indigenous witness and ex-colleague was dropped from a workplace bullying case, it has been alleged in court.
The case, being brought by Hadley’s former panel operator Chris Bowen alleges the racial slur against Bowen’s then partner, Naomi Shivaraman, happened during 16 years of vicious abuse.
The NSW District Court heard on Friday that Hadley had bullied, harassed and intimidated his client on “no less than 1,000 occasions”.
Mr Bowen is suing Hadley for negligence and breaching his duty of care.
He alleges that while they worked together at the leading radio station, Hadley called him a “f***ing nice person” a “f***ing spastic” and a “poor simpleton”.
It was also alleged in court that when Hadley’s former 2GB colleague Luke Bona, who is Indigenous, was revealed as a potential witness in the harassment case, Hadley texted him the next day.
It was alleged Ray Hadley referred to Chris Bowen’s then partner Naomi Shivaraman as a ‘curry muncher’, the court heard.Source:News Limited
Chris Bowen, pictured with Ray Hadley in 2014, is suing the star broadcaster for alleged workplace bullying.Source:News Corp Australia
In the text, Hadley wrote “I want you to know how sorry I am for you’re being dragged into” the case and described Mr Bowen as “crazy”.
Two days later, Hadley’s executive producer John Redman sent a text saying if Mr Bona’s son Jake, who had also worked at 2GB “wants to come back as a panel operator it’s a done deal”.
Mr Bowen’s lawyer John Laxon said Hadley was trying to have the matter dismissed and the statement of claims against him set aside, but that the matter would be heard in May next year.
He said they would be attempting to keep the identities of potential witnesses in the case for as long as possible from Hadley before the matter again goes before court.
An order has been made that Hadley’s lawyers receive a precis of the case against him with the names of witnesses six weeks before the hearing date.
The court heard, from counsel for Hadley, there was no evidence of the “very serious” allegations the broadcaster had attempted to intimidate potential witnesses.
the case will return to court on May 17, 2021.
https://www.news.com.au/entertainme...r/news-story/3a41dc28ab0b0f16decfb7c69f8493fb
