THE chief executive of the Festival of Kerry company had identified apparent irregularities in the way it was being run and queried them, the High Court was told yesterday. It was also claimed that Mr Liam J. Twomey was dissatisfied with sponsorship and insurance arrangements.
On May 1st last, Mr Twomey, of Moorefield Lawn, Tralee, was granted an interim High Court injunction restraining Festival of Kerry Ltd from acting on any purported dismissal of him. Mrs Justice McGuinness extended this until next Thursday and adjourned the proceedings.
Mr Paul Gallagher SC, for Mr Twomey, said it had been hoped to have the case settled. Mr Ercus Stewart SC, for the defence, said the company was a voluntary organisation, very much alive to the legal costs of the proceedings.
The defendant was prepared, without prejudice, to have a meeting at which Mr Twomey could be represented by his solicitor. He would also absent himself from the office without prejudice. Company directors and members would be told of developments.
Mr Gallagher said that would not solve the problem. Mr Twomey had identified apparent irregularities and certain people, not on the board, began to hold meetings. Following a purported dismissal decision, Mr Twomey issued court proceedings.
A meeting of the directors went ahead in circumstances where the contents of Mr Twomey's affidavit were known to some. Mr Gallagher said Mr Twomey was dissatisfied with the Guinness sponsorship and sought other sponsorship from Murphys/Heineken which offered three times more. As soon as he disclosed that to the directors, he was excluded from any role in relation to sponsorship.
He also notified directors he could negotiate insurance saving
£23,000 a year.
Mr Stewart said the organisation was in serious debt. Legal costs were mounting, putting the company and the festival in jeopardy.
Mr Stewart said his clients were entitled to an adjournment to respond to an affidavit they received yesterday. In relation to insurance counsel said it was not pursued because the broker was not bonded. Mr Gallagher said the broker was bonded.