Newspaper CEO entitled to damages over dismissal

A High Court judge yesterday held that the former CEO of a provincial newspaper who lost his job last year is entitled to damages for the loss which he has incurred as a consequence of his wrongful dismissal.

However, Brian Nerney, formerly of the Roscommon Herald, failed in his bid to have general damages awarded for alleged reputational damage in respect of the way his employment was terminated last year.

He claimed he suffered reputational damage after Thomas Crosbie Holdings told him by letter that he was being made redundant from his €80,000 a year job and was not to re-enter the Herald offices after that day. He sold the Herald to TCH for €10.3m in 2004.