ICU CEO fails to stop disciplinary hearing

[Seanie]

Canoe chief fails to stop disciplinary hearing

THE CHIEF executive of the Irish Canoe Union Ltd has failed to get a High Court order restraining his employer conducting a disciplinary hearing arising from findings of an investigation into complaints about conduct of his office.

The court was told the investigation found changes to Michael Scanlon’s salary were made without proper authorisation of the board of the watersports body and his contract was backdated without proper permission. It concluded these, plus VHI and pension payments made for him, were all serious matters that required a disciplinary hearing.

The Irish Canoe Union is funded by membership contributions, commercial training and grants from the Irish Sports Council, which gave it €625,883 in 2009, the court heard.

Mr Scanlon, national administrator of the canoe union since 1990 before his title was changed to chief executive officer in 2003, claims the procedure adopted to discipline him was flawed and would most likely lead to a decision to dismiss him. He has been suspended with pay since last December.

Mr Justice Roderick Murphy ruled yesterday Mr Scanlon was not entitled to an injunction preventing the canoe union’s disciplinary body considering an investigator’s report into the complaints.

The investigator made several findings, including that changes in Mr Scanlon’s salary were made without proper authorisation of the board, the judge noted.

On Friday the 13th no less.