A credit manager with Rabobank has secured an interim High Court injunction preventing his employer dismissing him.

Colin Browne, who has been on sick leave arising from stress since January last, claims Rabobank Ireland intends to dismiss him because he has not attended internal disciplinary hearings concerning his absence from work.

Mr Browne, Forest Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, was medically certified as unfit for work due to stress and was unable to attend the disciplinary hearings due to his illness, his counsel, Patricia Dillon, said. He had supplied medical certificates to that effect to the bank but a doctor employed on behalf of the company, whom Mr Browne attended last January, had found him fit for work.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted the ex parte application (one side only represented) by Ms Dillon for a temporary injunction preventing the bank terminating her client’s employment.