THE MANAGING director of a metal recycling company within the One51 investment group has claimed before the High Court he and other members of his family have been dismissed from the firm in a type of ethnic cleansing operation.

John Hegarty, Drumbanna, Co Limerick, obtained an interim injunction preventing Hegarty Metals Processors (International) Ltd, with registered offices at Thomas Street, Dublin, dismissing him arising from a redundancy notice served on February 21st last.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy granted David Sutton SC, for Mr Hegarty, the interim order returnable to Tuesday.

Mr Hegarty says three of his sons, two of his siblings, and two brothers-in-law who worked with him in the firm, have had their contracts terminated in the last two years. Other people who also worked closely with him have also been dismissed or resigned because of pressure brought on them by executives in the company, he claims.

Mr Hegarty was a 65 per cent shareholder in Hegarty before it was bought by One51 in September 2007 for €56 million. He says he later bought €13.5 million of One51 shares when he was appointed MD of the company following the take over because of his belief in its future.

However, two years ago, the company suspended him on full pay after what he alleges were false allegations made against him. Those allegations included that he had made inappropriate cash payments to county councillors, other public officials and to corporate entitities and individuals.

In an affidavit, Mr Hegarty said there was no substance to these charges and they were made to inhibit him expressing legitimate concerns in relation to the running of Hegarty.

In September 2010, a hearing was conducted into four specific allegations against him, including three in relation to alleged inappropriate payments allegedly made by him to two companies and a named individual. The only finding made against him was a breach of his contract in relation to one company and regarding his involvement in a firm which had been set up to compete with Hegarty, he said. He appealed those findings and an external adjudicator found in his favour and directed the company to withdraw written warnings to him.