Fingleton's evidence sought in dismissal case

FORMER CHIEF executive of Irish Nationwide Building Society Michael Fingleton and former loan manager Brian Fitzgibbon are being sought to give evidence in a case of unfair dismissal taken by Monaghan-based manager Ben Beggan.

Mr Beggan, partner of Irish Nationwide whistleblower Olivia Green, claims he was unfairly dismissed from his position by the society in February 2008.

Yesterday Irish Nationwide agreed to Mr Beggan’s request that the society produce its documentation in relation to loan applications and approvals for borrowings he secured in connection with five houses in Co Monaghan.

Mary Paula Guinness, counsel for Mr Beggan, told the Employment Appeals Tribunal that Mr Beggan also wanted to subpoena the two men along with current chief executive Gerry McGinn.

She asked that documentation relating to Mr Beggan’s borrowings be made available two weeks before the three witnesses give evidence.

Ercus Stewart SC, for Irish Nationwide, told the tribunal he had not been made aware in advance of efforts to call the three witnesses, but he undertook on behalf of the society to make the relevant documents available.

Mr Stewart said there was no disagreement that Mr Beggan had been dismissed.

Opening the hearing tribunal vice-chairman Dermot McCarthy noted the case could require as many as five days for hearings. But he said he would allocate just two, given the workload of the tribunal and the possibility the case may be settled.

He scheduled June 30th and July 1st for the hearings and said the issue of a subpoena for the witnesses would be dealt with at that time.

Should a longer time be needed for the case then additional days might be allocated then, he said.

Having read papers lodged in connection with the case, Mr McCarthy said the issues appeared to involve the five houses and circumstances surrounding a company car which had been involved in a crash.

Mr Stewart told the tribunal the issue of the car involved a vehicle provided by the building society which Mr Beggan had allowed to be driven by his son. The car had been crashed “and a claim brought”, said Mr Stewart. He added that Mr Beggan had written a letter to the society requesting another car.

However, Ms Guinness said that for her side “the main issue will be the manner in which the loans were given out”.

Mr Beggan’s partner, Ms Green, had worked in the society until 2008 when she left and sued for constructive dismissal.

She settled her case against the society in April 2009 and that December gave an interview to RTÉ's Prime Time Investigatesrelating to the society's lending practices.

In the interview she alleged Fianna Fáil politicians received fast-tracked loans personally authorised by Mr Fingleton.