Unfair dismissal action against Eddie Irvine resumes

THE unfair dismissal action against ex-Formula One racing driver Eddie Irvine by his former friend and business partner, John Foley, resumes this week.

Mr Foley had owned and managed two city centre Dublin bars - Cocoon off Grafton St and O'Reilly's on Tara St since the mid-1990s.

At an earlier hearing of the Employment Appeals Tribunal it was stated Mr Irvine became a 50% shareholder in Calview Investments, the company that owns Cocoon, in return for unsecured loans of over €1 million which he gave to Mr Foley, the owner of the other half-share.

Mr Irvine, who claims he has lost €1.8m over his investment also claims Calview was entitled to dismiss Mr Foley for "at best, incompetence and at worst, misconduct".

However, Mr Foley claims there was a strategy to wrest control of the company which had nothing to do with the reasons Mr Foley was dismissed.

Mr Foley is expected to begin evidence tomorrow.