The Show Jumping Association of Ireland director-general, Mr Tony Kelly, returned to work from sick leave on Monday, July 20th, 12 days before the expiry of his final medical certificate, specifically to work on the controversial accounts, but he was denied access to his own office.
At a stormy executive meeting lasting almost seven hours in the Irish Farm Centre eight days ago, it was agreed that a conciliatory letter should be sent to Mr Kelly, welcoming him back and reiterating the invitation for him to work with the accountants on the 1997 figures. At the same meeting, September 28th was finalised as the date for the association's 1998 a.g.m., with the membership due to receive a full set of accounts, with 21 days' notification of the meeting.
But the letter drafted at last week's executive committee meeting was subsequently withheld on legal advice, and two days later the chairwoman, Ms Bernie Brennan, circulated the draft of an alternative letter insisting Mr Kelly should answer all queries on the accounts by August 14th.
A copy of this letter was sent to each of the 20-member executive seeking agreement on the changes, but even before the redrafted letter was delivered to Mr Kelly he was made aware of its contents and, having sought legal advice, informed the chairman that his position as director-general had been rendered "totally untenable".
Ms Brennan declined to comment on yesterday's developments, other than stating: "I am precluded from discussing the matter of Tony Kelly's employment until it is formally resolved."
She did, however, go on to say: "The timing is unfortunate, but it's an internal matter and we're working towards sorting it out. The association is going to come out of this and the association is going to survive."
The "conciliatory letter" was never sent to Mr Kelly.