Mr Roger Copsey was asked whether he believed Mr James Gogarty's allegation that "monies had been received by members of staff that were unaccounted for" were "genuine" or "manufactured merely to cause trouble", at the tribunal yesterday.
He told Mr Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal: "I think that if you are emotionally involved you can genuinely believe whatever you want."
He said he made it clear to Mr Gogarty that if he could give proof of these payments, they could be investigated by himself or the auditors.
Mr Copsey said Mr Gogarty had two motives. "Undoubtedly, he was loyal to the company but I think he was also misguided because . . . at that particular time he felt that people had slighted him." In an investigation Mr Copsey carried out at a later date, he was given papers by the company accountant that showed "expenses had been paid in cash" of amounts between £30 an £60 for the cleaning of premises used by a former executive Mr Conroy.
Mr O'Neill asked Mr Copsey if he accepted Mr Gogarty's complaint in the light of this payment, which could amount to £3,000 a year. "I in no way, at any time, dismissed what Mr Gogarty said," he replied. Mr O'Neill said Mr Copsey had specifically said in evidence the day before that Mr Gogarty was unable to give proof of payments whether it be for £5 or £5,000, although he had proof of £60, which would be about £3,000 a year.
Mr Copsey said: "This was absolutely correct, but Jim Gogarty didn't give the evidence to me, which is what I said."