BRIAN NERNEY, the former chief executive of the Roscommon Herald, has been refused an injunction restraining Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd (TCH) from ending his employment.
Mr Justice Michael Peart also refused to direct that Mr Nerney be reinstated to the post with full pay until the High Court determines at a full trial whether or not he was unlawfully dismissed in breach of contract.
Mr Justice Peart awarded Thomas Crosbie Holdings, which owns the Roscommon Herald, its legal costs but, on the application of barrister Peter O’Brien, counsel for Mr Nerney, put a stay on payment of the costs until all matters are determined at an early trial in the new law term which begins in October.
Mr Nerney, of Carrick Road, Boyle, Co Roscommon sold the Roscommon Herald to TCH in 2004.
He claimed that in July he had been dismissed from his €80,590 a year position of chief executive which carried a €12,000 annual car allowance and an annual 7.5 per cent of salary pension contribution payable by TCH.
TCH argued that it was entitled as of right to dismiss an employee where that employee’s position had become redundant or dismiss him in terms of his contract of employment.
It had made 54 redundancies since 2011.