The chief executive of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) has opened High Court proceedings to prevent his dismissal as head of the organisation.
The board of the association, which receives more than €23 million in State funding, dismissed Mr Séamus Thompson at a meeting last week.
However, Mr Thompson has secured a High Court order restraining the IWA from effecting its decision.
Separately, The Irish Times has learned that the association's financial controller, Mr John Bouchier-Hayes, had resigned from the organisation in advance of last week's board meeting.
The IWA did not comment yesterday on why it sought Mr Thompson's dismissal. However, the move follows a continuing review of corporate governance and organisation issues at the charity, which employs 1,600 people and has about 20,000 members.
The review, by consultants Farrell, Grant Sparks, was commissioned following complaints by a small number of staff relating to the management of the organisation.
Mr Thompson's solicitors, Traynor Mallon & Co, declined to comment on the proceedings yesterday, while Mr Bouchier-Hayes was unavailable.
In a statement yesterday the IWA confirmed that legal proceedings had been served on the organisation.
"The board of the IWA will vigorously defend its actions. As the matter is before the courts no further comment may be made at this stage," the IWA said.
The association said Ms Molly Buckley, chairwoman of the IWA, would act as executive chair on an interim basis.
A spokesman for the charity declined to comment on the contents of the consultants' report.
It is understood that a draft version of the report was presented to the board and executive management team before Christmas.
Mr Thompson and Mr Bouchier-Hayes were given time to respond to its findings.
Mr Bouchier-Hayes tendered his resignation as financial controller on Thursday, January 27th. At a meeting the following day the board decided to dismiss Mr Thompson.
Under normal procedures he had seven days to respond to the dismissal. Mr Thompson secured a High Court order restraining the IWA from effecting its decision two days ago.
The latest annual report for the IWA shows the organisation received more than €23 million in Government grants, health board subventions and community employment funding.
It also raised funds worth €1.95 million through raffles and flag days, along with a further €800,000 from rental income, sales and services and revenue from charity shops.
Meanwhile, the IWA said Ms Buckley would work closely with senior management and staff to ensure the continued delivery of services to the IWA's 20,000 members throughout the country.
"It is the board's priority to maintain the confidence of its funders, full-time and part-time staff and volunteers, members and service users and the general public," the IWA added.
In a statement, the board said yesterday that it wished to thank the IWA staff and volunteers who continued to be dedicated to promoting the aims and objectives of the IWA and to thank its funders and the general public for their continuing support.
