The chief executive-designate of Jurys Hotel Group, Mr Pat McCann, told a hotel manager he would never work in the industry again if he took the company to court over a plan to demote or get rid of him, the High Court has been told.
Ms Justice Macken granted Mr Cormac O'Keeffe an injunction yesterday restraining the group from terminating his employment as general manager of Cardiff Jurys Hotel, Wales, or appointing another manager in his place.
Mr Frank Callanan SC, for Mr O'Keeffe, said that after working in managerial positions with the company in Ballsbridge and Galway he was appointed to the £42,000-a-year post in Cardiff in November 1995. The hotel prospered under him and profits rose to more than £1 million by 1997.
Returning from holidays last November he received a memo from Mr McCann concerning complaints made by customers during his absence. In a phone call Mr McCann accused him of not being in control and that his hotel was "a disgrace". He had been given a month to improve matters or face dismissal. Mr O'Keeffe, in an affidavit, said his position was undermined in that the overall manager for the UK was managing the hotel over his head.
Last month the hotel industry in Cardiff experienced a financial slump, and he faxed Dublin headquarters anticipating the hotel would not achieve its March target.
On March 24th Mr McCann arrived and convened a meeting at which he said he was dissatisfied with his performance, that the March results were going to be a disaster and that he could not tolerate his position in Cardiff any longer.
Mr McCann had presented him with three options: resign, accept an inferior position somewhere in Ireland, or be dismissed.
Mr O'Keeffe said Mr McCann repeatedly refused to confirm his position in writing. On March 29th he was informed his employment was to be terminated.