‘Fictitious’ expenses filed by coursing club’s accountant

A former accountant with the Irish Coursing Club submitted "fictitious" mileage expenses worth €3,800 a year after striking an agreement with his former boss and the club's former auditors, a tribunal has heard.

Edmund O’Brien (50) of Newmarket, Co Cork, has taken an action for unfair dismissal against the Irish Coursing Club and its associated companies, including the Irish Sporting Press which publishes a weekly newspaper on greyhound racing and coursing.

He was dismissed in January of 2010 for alleged falsification of accounts and misappropriation of funds. The Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday, on the third day of evidence following previous sittings in Clonmel last November, that Mr O'Brien received payments above his €80,000 annual salary totalling €65,000 between 2000 and 2007.

The agreement about the €3,809 in “mileage” was made with the club’s former auditors Ernst and Young and the then chief executive, Jerry Desmond, Mr O’Brien said.

DJ Histon, who took over as chief executive in 2008 told Mr O’Brien this wasn’t acceptable.

The case continues today.