THE MANAGING director of a group of companies which operate more than a dozen well-known bars in Dublin city and at Dublin airport is seeking a High Court injunction to prevent him being made redundant.
Mark Leavey is managing director of Sharmane Ltd, which with its subsidiary companies is known as the Thomas Read Group.
At the High Court yesterday, Roddy Horan SC, for Mr Leavey, secured permission from Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe to notify the group of his client's intention to seek an injunction next Friday.
Mr Leavey, Castlewood Park, Rathmines, Dublin, has been managing director of the company since 2005 and claims any attempt to remove him would be a breach of contract and fair procedures.
Mr Horan said Sharmane Ltd was a holding company owned by Guerneville Ltd, of which his client had a substantial shareholding, and part of the Thomas Read group.
He said the Read group owned and operated 20 premises in the Dublin area including the award-winning Winding Stair restaurant and bookshop, the Champagne Bar, the Lincoln Inn Pub, the New Bar in Smithfield and seven bars at Dublin airport. It employed more than 400 staff.
Mr Horan said his client was told earlier this month that his position was to be made redundant on October 31st.
Mr Leavey was put on notice of moves aimed at his dismissal from June last. While the issue was raised again in August and September, it was not until a few days ago that he was informed he was to be made redundant, Mr Horan said.
He added that Mr Leavey believed it was "bogus" to say the position of managing director within the group was redundant.
After a corporate financial transaction with a bank fell through, Mr Leavey said he was told by the company it could no longer afford him and no longer believed it required a managing director.
He said in an affidavit that he was asked by company directors to resign and was told his position would be taken on a communal and unpaid basis.