Chief Financial Officer with Irish Greyhound Board seeks to halt disciplinary process

The Chief Financial Officer with the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) claims a disciplinary process brought against him by his employer is flawed, lacks independence and breaches his contract of employment.

Michael Murnane, who has been the IGB's CFO since 2011, is the subject of a disciplinary process arising out of two allegations of misconduct, which he denies.

It is alleged he inadequately managed company bank accounts to the extent that overdraft interest of between €14,000 to €21,000 was allegedly unnecessarily incurred.

It is also alleged that, in breach of company policy, in early 2019 he used a company credit card to purchase a gift voucher for a departing work colleague.

Arsing out of these allegations Mr Murnane was summoned to a disciplinary meeting.

Mr Murnane "absolutely rejects" the allegations of wrongdoing against him and described the claim in relation to the overdraft as "a bolt from the blue".

He claims the process lacks independence and that he has a contractual entitlement to have the matters investigated by an external independent third party.

He fears the process could result in him losing his €119,000, plus allowances, a year job with the defendant and that his reputation will be damaged.

As a result of the disciplinary process against him, Mr Murnane, who has been out on sick leave for some time, seeks various orders from the High Court including an injunction preventing the IGB from continuing with the disciplinary hearing against him.

The IGB, represented by Mark Connaughton SC opposes the application, and argues that the internal investigation process should be allowed to proceed.

The IGB rejects Mr Murnane's claims he has an entitlement to an external investigation.

The application came before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor today.

The judge adjourned the matter to next week's sitting of the court.

Mr Murnane, represented by Cliona Kimber SC, says he repaid the money used to pay for the voucher out of his own pocket a few weeks after it had been purchased.

In addition it is Mr Murnane's case that the overdraft came about after the board had suggested putting money the IGB got following the sale of Harold's Cross stadium in 2018 into a separate ring-fenced bank account.

He said that the CEO of the IGB, Mr Gerard Dollard, wanted the money in the current account so that no overdraft would be needed. Mr Murnane claims it was extremely unfair that he be held personally liable for the overdraft.

The claims are denied.