Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Employment Appeals Tribunal has heard that an AIB bank manager form Barna was fired for ‘gross misconduct’ after he facilitated loans which ultimately benefited Galway United Football Club.
According to today’s Irish Times, Seán McHugh from Barna is asking the tribunal to declare he was unfairly dismissed by AIB.
Senior AIB bank official, Brendan O’ Brien told the tribunal this week that he conducted the disciplinary hearing.
He said Seán McHugh had bank authority to facilitate loans to Galway United to a limit of 75 thousand euro.
Mr. O Brien added that Seán McHugh had facilitated a number of personal loans to people associated with the football club, with repayment linked to club fortunes, in a move that effectively exceeded his permitted limit.
The tribunal also heard claims that Seán McHugh is an official of the club and there was a ‘conflict of interest’.
Senior Counsel for Seán McHugh, Ercus Stewart, said that his client never had any involvement in the day-to-day running of Galway United.
He said there was no doubt over who would repay the loans as the person who borrowed them would be responsible for repayments.
The case continues before the Employment Appeals Tribunal.