A sales manager who faced dismissal for telling his boss he was "a little bollocks" may soon leave his job by retiring early, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Justice Tom Smyth was told that the early retirement of Kevin Costello was on the agenda of a meeting today of his employers, Cadbury Ireland Ltd.
Mr Costello, of Pinewood Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin, had earlier obtained a High Court injunction restraining his dismissal. The case had been adjourned until yesterday to facilitate talks with regard to his early retirement.
Mr Justice Smyth adjourned the matter until October 3rd. The judge said that if everything was resolved in the meantime, the injunction could be vacated.
Mr Costello told his area sales manager, Graham Kidd, at a gala dinner: "You're a little bollocks." He later said this was meant as a joke and he apologised. His barrister, Michael McMahon, said that the words used were looked on as a term of endearment in some parts of the country.
Michael Howard SC, for Cadbury, told the earlier court hearing there was misconduct by Mr Costello and the company had followed all proper procedures in dismissing him for his remarks.
The case will be mentioned again on September 6th so that the injunction can be lifted if Mr Costello's retirement arrangements are settled.