Irish Nationwide manager seeks to halt internal inquiry

AN IRISH Nationwide Building Society branch manager has asked the High Court for orders halting an inquiry by the society into matters relating to his own borrowings and the handling of accounts of customers, including those of a large property developer.

Noel Harrington, manager of the Cruise’s Street, Limerick, branch, is prepared to co-operate with a “bona fide investigation” but is unhappy with how the society has treated matters, Mark Connaughton SC said yesterday.

Mr Justice Garret Sheehan will today continue hearing Mr Harrington’s application for various orders, including an order halting the inquiry as constituted, pending the outcome of full proceedings.

Mr Harrington, Mill Road, Corbally, Limerick, said the society was engaged in “a scapegoating exercise”. He was concerned his employment was in jeopardy and about the effect on his good name.

He said he had an explanation concerning his own borrowings and was not responsible for the handling of accounts of a property developer who owed €36 million to Irish Nationwide. He said those were controlled from head office “at a much higher level than me”.

The court was told Mr Harrington, following inquiries dating to September last, was directed on January 26th to go on paid leave and return his office’s keys.

Mr Harrington said he was asked last September to attend a meeting with INBS chief executive Michael Fingleton who had asked him about certain accounts. Mr Harrington said when he told Mr Fingleton he did not operate the accounts, Mr Fingleton had held up his hands and said he didn’t want to hear it and had directed him to go through the accounts with commercial staff.

In opposing the application,Irish Nationwide contends the proposed investigation is an independent and necessary one. It has also denied Mr Harrington has been suspended.