The former manager of Inishowen Community Radio has won his case for unfair dismissal against the now defunct station.
The Employments Appeals Tribunal ruled that there was no proper justification for the dismissal of Jim Doherty and that he had not been afforded a fair opportunity to challenge the allegations leading to his dismissal.
The Tribunal stated that it was unacceptable that the employer refused to supply Mr Doherty with a copy of an audit report on which it based its reasons to dismiss him.
The Tribunal also noted that Mr Doherty had been subjected to systematic online abuse by individuals associated with the station in an attempt to disparage him and force his departure from the station.
A relieved Mr Doherty declared that he had mixed emotions on receiving the news.
“It’s good to be vindicated, good to clear my name of the totally untrue allegations and rumours.
“I spent 12 years helping to set up the station and develop it into the great local community resource it became. I’m saddened that all the good work that staff members, loads of committed volunteers and I put in over the years has been lost.”
This was the second of two cases that Mr Doherty had brought against his former employer, winning his case last year at the Labour Relations Commission.
Mr Doherty said this was now the end of the matter.
“I’ve exhausted the legal process against ICR and besides the company no longer exists. I went to the Garda and reported the online abuse and anonymous letters that were being sent to local media and am waiting to hear from them. My solicitor advised that taking a defamation or libel action would be extremely expensive and probably cost me about €30k even if I won because the individuals involved would be unable to pay.”
Mr Doherty concluded by saying that his case is a warning to anyone about the dangers that exist in the workplace.
“When I left I had secured project funding of €76,000 yet the station closed down a few months later. It just shows that it’s much easier to be destructive than constructive. I’m getting on with life but sad that ICR has gone too.”
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