THE former finance editor of the Irish Press, Mr Colm Rapple, is seeking reinstatement in the newspaper group, even though, all three titles went into liquidation and receivership last September.
Mr Raple was dismissed in May on the day when court rulings had increased the indebtedness of the ailing group. He was dismissed for writing an article in The Irish Times deemed critical of Press management. Journalists immediately held a mandatory meeting and the newspapers were never published again.
At the Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday, Mr Peter Ward, for Mr Rapple, claimed his client had been dismissed without proper procedures being followed. He was seeking reinstatement to achieve parity with his colleagues "who had been made redundant when the company was wound up.
Mr Colm Saunders, for the receiver, accountants KPMG, did not contest the case.
Since the sacking, Mr Rapple said he had obtained some freelance work but little more than when he had been employed by the Irish Press.
Mr Michael Conway, a former Irish Press journalist and trustee of the pension fund, said Mr Rapple had lost out because of his dismissal and would receive lower pension entitlements. He would have to be reinstated to receive an enhanced pension.
Mr Ward admitted that seeking reinstatement might appear incongruous, "given the state of the Irish Press". The effect, however, would be to place Mr Rapple in the same position as other journalists.
The tribunal usually seeks, where possible, to reinstate. Reinstatement would allow Mr Rapple his full rights for pension and redundancy. He was seeking the best possible remedy for Mr Rapple, and that was reinstatement. He pointed out that not a single executive of the Irish Press had appeared.
Tribunal chairwoman Ms Mary Flaherty said a decision would be conveyed as soon as possible.
The NUJ is funding Mr Rapple's action.