Former cab firm chief claims she was fired unfairly

The wife of rogue financier, Breifne O’Brien, has taken a case for unfair dismissal against the Dublin taxi firm which the couple once owned.

Fiona Nagle appeared before the Employment Appeals Tribunal to claim she was wrongly fired as chief executive from Blackrock Cabs in 2009.

The tribunal heard that Ms Nagle, who once ran her own PR and event management company, has been actively seeking work in recent years through Fás and other job schemes.

The Dublin City Sheriff, John Fitzpatrick, had the shareholding in Blackrock Cabs transferred to him by court order in 2009 after it was placed in liquidation.

Ms Nagle, a mother of five children, told the hearing she began working with Blackrock Cabs in 2003 as a marketing consultant. She was appointed chief executive of the firm in 2008 as it was losing money. She succeeded in winning the company new business which helped it to break even.

Ms Nagle claimed she had a weekly wage of €436 at the time from Blackrock Cabs. She said she was contacted by Mr Fitzpatrick in Feb, 2010 who informed her that he had never been asked to take over a business in such a manner before.

He also told her that he wanted to bring in another director to take over her position. Ms Nagle replied there was no need for that as she would continue “honestly and responsibly” in the role. However, she was instructed to remove her belongings from the firms’ office the next day.

Ms Nagle said she had received no reply to a letter sent to Mr Fitzpatrick on Feb 16, 2010 seeking her outstanding wages. She described the sheriff’s attitude towards her as “unfair”.

She insisted yesterday the firm was continuing to trade despite being placed in liquidation, although her barrister, Darragh Breen BL, said its status was “questionable”.

Ms Nagle’s application was unopposed by the company which was not represented at yesterday’s hearing. The tribunal will issue its ruling at a later date.

Ms Nagle’s estranged husband is the subject of a criminal investigation over his alleged role in orchestrating a pyramid scheme over 15 years which defrauded his clients, including many of his friends, of millions of euro.

Mr O’Brien, originally from Cork, is the subject of High Court orders compelling him to repay around €13m to his clients.

Ms Nagle previously came to public attention after she sought permission from the High Court to withdraw €4,000 per week from a bank account held jointly by the couple.