A former information technology director with the Elan pharmaceutical company has been awarded €125,000 compensation after an Employment Appeals Tribunal found he had been unfairly dismissed.

Govind Basnet, the Fairways, Monaleen, Castleroy, Limerick, joined Elan in 2001 as IT director of its Athlone operation with responsibility for a team of 18-25 staff.

Elan claimed that issues had been raised at performance reviews in regard to Mr Basnet's "interpersonal and communications skills".

The tribunal was told that in a March 2005 performance review there were "issues with communications and the ability to influence others, planning and organisational skills and team development and teamwork".

A psychologist from the training department was asked to help Mr Basnet and a programme to coach him was set in motion.

A month later, Elan's Athlone general manager was told that Mr Basnet had described a former employee as a "very big bullshitter" at a conference in Dublin. He also alleged the former employee had been made redundant by Elan and that he had been thrown out of a pub due to a fight after drinking with colleagues.

The general manager suspended Mr Basnet.

Mr Basnet made a written apology to the former employee, who accepted it. However, Mr Basnet was dismissed and his subsequent appeal was unsuccessful.

The tribunal ruled Elan "neither properly nor fully" investigating the matter. It awarded Mr Basnet €125,000 after accepting his evidence as to share options to which he was entitled.