Tribunal defers McInerney case

The Employment Appeals Tribunal has deferred a case of alleged unfair dismissal, taken by the former head of housebuilding group, McInerney Holdings, until Dec 12.

Though the action is technically being taken against McInerney, Barry O’Connor’s allegations are being made against his former colleagues rather than the consortium which now owns the firm’s name.

McInerney came close to extinction last year when its former board resigned after shareholders voted against its proposal to wind down the firm. After that, the McInerney name was taken over by shareholder David Nabarro and associates, John Garratt and Kevin Lynch.

Mr O’Connor was co-opted onto the board in a non-executive capacity.

The hearing was deferred to give the company’s new management team time to gather legacy information.

If the tribunal were to find in Mr O’Connor’s favour, a monetary judgment could conceivably,bankrupt Mc- Inerney in its current guise, although it could be expected that the current management would then seek redress from the former management team.