THE HIGH Court has granted the manager of a painting and decorating store, who claims he has been wrongly accused of misappropriating ten of thousands of euro worth of stock, a temporary order preventing his employers from taking steps to dismiss him.
Yesterday, Mr Justice John Hedigan granted Padraig O'Malley, Rosario, Strandhill Road, Co Sligo, an interim injunction preventing McCosker Wallpaper and Paints Ltd and company director Rossa McCosker from terminating his employment as manager of the firm's store in Sligo pending a full determination of the matter.
The judge granted further temporary orders including that an inquiry into the allegations being carried out by the company cease, that the company stop advertising the position of manager at the store, and that they lift his suspension from employment.
Mr O'Malley said he was summoned to a meeting at the company's offices in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal on January 14th, but was not told what it was about. He met an area manager and Mr McCosker, and was accused of being a thief. Mr O'Malley said Mr McCosker said there was about €100,000 worth of stock missing.
Mr O'Malley claimed in his affidavit that he was given a few days to come up with the money to pay for the missing stock.
He said Mr McCosker also accused him of giving away free paint, that it had been going on for years and said "I am finished with you."
Mr O'Malley said he categorically denied all the allegations made against him and that he wanted an independent inquiry.