View Full Version : Sean Connor Unfair Dismissal Case
joeSoap
03/12/2008, 8:58 AM
Independent.ie (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sacked-soccer-boss-denies-he-made-advances-to-club-worker-1561067.html)
By Tim Healy
Wednesday December 03 2008
A former manager of League of Ireland champions Bohemians told the High Court yesterday there was no basis to a sexual harassment allegation which was among the reasons he lost his job with the football club. Sean Connor, who is seeking damages for unfair dismissal, said the allegation that he had made "advances of a sexual nature" to a woman who voluntarily worked at the club was without foundation and had made his personal life very difficult. It had also made it difficult to get another job since his dismissal in December of last year, he said. He was giving evidence at the opening day of his action for damages against the club in which he claims he was wrongfully dismissed and not afforded proper procedures. He is also seeking a declaration that the decision to terminate his €100,000-per-season contract was null and void. Mr Connor (41), who lives in Killybegs, Co Donegal, with his partner and child, had been earning €600 a week at Sligo Rovers before joining the Dublin club on December 1, 2006 on a contract due to last to the end of the 2009 season.
He brought the club into a third-place league finish in his first season but, by December of last year, the directors of the club dismissed him following a number of allegations, including the sexual harassment of a relation of a board member. He failed in an earlier High Court bid this year to get an injunction to be reinstated after a judge ruled that an action for damages would be an adequate remedy for him. Pat Fenlon was appointed manager after Mr Connor was dismissed, and subsequently led Bohemians to a league and FAI Cup double this year. On the first day of the action for damages yesterday, the court heard the alleged sexual harassment occurred after Mr Connor had invited the young woman out for dinner, shortly before his dismissal last year, and later took her to an apartment he had been renting in Malahide Marina Village. It was alleged that he invited her out "under false pretences" and made "advances of a sexual nature" while in the flat.
Mr Connor, under cross-examination by Alistair Rutherdale, for the club, denied making any advances and said he had invited the young woman out to thank her for the assistance she had provided him with during the year, especially during the League Cup final in 2007. He said he made it clear to the woman that the dinner would only be himself and herself and "she had an opportunity to cancel but she didn't". Mr Connor agreed that in hindsight it may have been an error of judgment to invite her out. He also told the court no formal complaint had been made by the woman and since the incident he had spoken to the woman's mother and to her brother. The woman's mother briefly interrupted proceedings yesterday to say her daughter had been "dragged in [to the proceedings] by one of the parties involved". The court heard the woman, who is only being referred to by her initials, was not present for the hearing but would be available to give evidence if required.
Mr Connor also told the court yesterday that he had been declared a bankrupt as a result of investing in a business deal in England but he had since discharged that bankruptcy. In its defence of Mr Connor's claims, Bohemians FC says his position was terminated for serious and ongoing breaches of his contract. The club says that among the other reasons for his termination was the offering of contracts to players without board approval, the unapproved renting of accommodation for players, the payment of unauthorised meal expenses and inviting players from other clubs to train with Bohemians. He also allegedly drove a club sponsor-supplied car without insurance despite having been warned not to do so and ended up in an accident in which a motorcyclist was paid €3,000 to settle any claim.
The case continues.
OneRedArmy
03/12/2008, 11:29 AM
A year in the life of the Big Club.
eamo1
03/12/2008, 11:35 AM
100k a year,wow,no wonder Bohs are so much in debt giving contracts like that in this league.
And he used that old excuse of "i invited her to dinner to thank her for her assistance",ya right.
joeSoap
03/12/2008, 11:36 AM
I'd say he could win his case. Clearly the Big Pub thought they had their man, then realised they hadn't and decided to be sly about trying to show him the door.
Imagine that in modern day Ireland....a man trying to get in to some young one's knickers....amazing!!:eek: I'm glad there isn't sexual harrassment suits brought against every attached man who tried it on with someone in the workplace...it would be a long waiting list.
Bohs made a bad appointment, then tried to get out of it. I see a settlement being made.
Saint_Charlie
03/12/2008, 12:17 PM
100k a year,wow,no wonder Bohs are so much in debt giving contracts like that in this league.
And he was on 600 a week at Sligo which would mean Bohs paid him more than triple what he was getting there if those figures are true.
Insane!
BohDiddley
03/12/2008, 12:18 PM
Insane!
Agreed.
charliesboots
03/12/2008, 12:21 PM
And they're paying him a lot more now - settled for €225k plus costs apparently.
That's another big bill for Bohs, including Connors costs and their own costs they'll be down well over €300k.
Madness that they didn't settle this a long time ago - could have been done for less than €200k all in IMO.
Jersey Cow
03/12/2008, 12:23 PM
Connors wins hands down I heard!!!!
OneRedArmy
03/12/2008, 12:26 PM
Connors wins hands down I heard!!!!given the substantial settlement it was more a case of winning hands "where everyone can see them".
gufct
03/12/2008, 12:41 PM
Bohs will be very lucky if they cap the total in this at €350,000 including costs. The next members meeting should be interesting. Where are Bohs going to get the Money to pay this ???
brianw82
03/12/2008, 12:57 PM
So did Bohs not give him any shut-up money at the time?
charliesboots
03/12/2008, 12:58 PM
Bohs will be very lucky if they cap the total in this at €350,000 including costs. The next members meeting should be interesting. Where are Bohs going to get the Money to pay this ???
Well they've only drawn down 2.7 million of the 4 million from Zurich. Not sure how the Albion judgment affected this arrangement but I doubt it has.
pineapple stu
03/12/2008, 1:00 PM
Whatever about paying Sean Connor and his costs, there's no way they can pay back Zurich at this stage. Or Liam Carroll. Or Albion's costs. Or the Revenue. Or...
charliesboots
03/12/2008, 1:14 PM
Whatever about paying Sean Connor and his costs, there's no way they can pay back Zurich at this stage. Or Liam Carroll. Or Albion's costs. Or the Revenue. Or...
....pay the wages of a new manager - Nutsy gone to Rovers apparently
Réiteoir
03/12/2008, 1:51 PM
The reports on Fenlon are still unconfirmed - as seen by the blind panic on theBohs.com board.
If he does walk - I can't blame him with the mess of a club he's now involved in around him - got to go where the security is tbh
And whoever wished for a quiet close season I'd like to meet after class for "a little chat"...
charliesboots
03/12/2008, 1:53 PM
The reports on Fenlon are still unconfirmed - as seen by the blind panic on theBohs.com board.
If he does walk - I can't blame him with the mess of a club he's now involved in around him - got to go where the security is tbh
And whoever wished for a quiet close season I'd like to meet after class for "a little chat"...
Anybody wishing for a quiet close season is a sadist - this stuff makes the cold days bearable.
holidaysong
03/12/2008, 1:57 PM
The LOI doesn't do 'close season'. :)
Bloody hell. Somebody at Dalymount should be run from the club for this fiasco!
holidaysong
03/12/2008, 2:07 PM
This might make them think twice about appealing the Albion case..
I don't think they have a choice. It may be Russian roulette with 5 loaded chambers, but the guy by the door has an uzi and a Shamrock Rovers scarf.
neville neville
03/12/2008, 2:25 PM
The LOI doesn't do 'close season'. :)
it does have a 52 week long Silly Season though
realistically, what chance of survival do Bohemians have now? How much money could they possibly have left after this extra 250k or what ever, and will this affect the playing budget? Questions need to be asked and answered. I mean, the last time Nutsy left after winning the title...
Réiteoir
03/12/2008, 2:53 PM
realistically, what chance of survival do Bohemians have now? How much money could they possibly have left after this extra 250k or what ever, and will this affect the playing budget? Questions need to be asked and answered. I mean, the last time Nutsy left after winning the title...
He went to a tiny insignificant club up in the North.
Are Chimney Corner looking for a new gaffer?
charliesboots
03/12/2008, 3:22 PM
realistically, what chance of survival do Bohemians have now? How much money could they possibly have left after this extra 250k or what ever, and will this affect the playing budget? Questions need to be asked and answered. I mean, the last time Nutsy left after winning the title...
They'll survive alright but they might have to do a deal to sell Dalymount....oh no wait, they already have...twice!!
HarpoJoyce
03/12/2008, 3:34 PM
They'll survive alright but they might have to do a deal to sell Dalymount....oh no wait, they already have...twice!!
Three times.
yur right Harpo the FAI ****ed up royally the time they bailed them out.
HarpoJoyce
03/12/2008, 3:45 PM
yur right Harpo the FAI ****ed up royally the time they bailed them out.
No they did not.
They reinvested Irish National team money in Irish football.
loibigfan
03/12/2008, 5:43 PM
sean connor's case was settled yesterday evening outside the court..dont no yet wat amount of money he got yet tho..no better source
OneRedArmy
03/12/2008, 5:53 PM
sean connor's case was settled yesterday evening outside the court..dont no yet wat amount of money he got yet tho..no better sourceIts alright Sean, we know, it was quoted earlier in the thread.
Enjoy your money and watch who you invite out for dinner in future......
:D
A face
03/12/2008, 6:26 PM
I don't think they have a choice. It may be Russian roulette with 5 loaded chambers, but the guy by the door has an uzi and a Shamrock Rovers scarf.
Perfect analogy there :p
Its alright Sean, we know, it was quoted earlier in the thread.
Enjoy your money and watch who you invite out for dinner in future......
Ya durty auld codger :D
Martinho II
03/12/2008, 7:07 PM
Well they've only drawn down 2.7 million of the 4 million from Zurich. Not sure how the Albion judgment affected this arrangement but I doubt it has.
pardon my ignorance on this but who the hell is zurich???:confused:
Said it before, the FAI should market this league as a soap opera
Great stuff
Its alright Sean, we know, it was quoted earlier in the thread.
Enjoy your money and watch who you invite out for dinner in future......
:D
http://www.gifmania.co.uk/Looney-Tunes/Pepe-le-pew/_XXLmisc1.gif
forza rovers
03/12/2008, 8:18 PM
pardon my ignorance on this but who the hell is zurich???:confused:their a bank
SolitudeRed
04/12/2008, 1:51 AM
Another load of money down the drain madness! Who is running Bohs and what the hell are they on?
brianw82
04/12/2008, 6:21 AM
Said it before, the FAI should market this league as a soap opera
Great stuff
Dream Team has nothing on the LoI.
Dream Team has nothing on the LoI.
But it is as depressing as Eastenders!
Another load of money down the drain madness! Who is running Bohs and what the hell are they on?
Bohs are a members club. The club is run by Bohs fans
sonofstan
04/12/2008, 9:25 AM
Bohs are a members club. The club is run by Bohs fans
*sobs*
Sadly, that's true.
joeSoap
04/12/2008, 9:39 AM
Any more news on the 'Nutsy to Rovers' rumour?
Michael O'Neill, former NI international, and current boss of Brechin City has apparently been offered the job. Kenna was in the running but asked for silly money (he asked for his assistant to be paid more than Scully was being paid). If O'neill turns down the job, its expected that Rovers will approach Fenlon
Jersey Cow
04/12/2008, 10:13 AM
Michael O'Neill would be a good choice though his knowledge about the League may not be great!....best of luck to him if he gets it....on the Bohs subject, surely heads should role at Bohs board level regarding the losing of Connor's case as well as the land deal fiasco a few weeks back.....who exactly is responsible???
cheech
04/12/2008, 10:33 AM
Michael O'Neill would be a good choice though his knowledge about the League may not be great!....best of luck to him if he gets it....on the Bohs subject, surely heads should role at Bohs board level regarding the losing of Connor's case as well as the land deal fiasco a few weeks back.....who exactly is responsible???
This 'knowledge of the league' being important for someone to manager here is total BS.
Paul Cook and Jeff Kenna have both proved that this year have they not?
Plus, there are plenty of people about that have been involved with LOI for years that haven't a clue and have achieved nothing as managers.
Derry
04/12/2008, 10:38 AM
He went to a tiny insignificant club up in the North.
Are Chimney Corner looking for a new gaffer?
Thay say all rats desert a sinking ship, and Pat will soon be on a hatrick.
cheech
04/12/2008, 11:12 AM
Thay say all rats desert a sinking ship, and Pat will soon be on a hatrick.
In fairness why would they want to stay on a sinking ship?
Pat Fenlon didn't desert Shels or Derry. Did the fans in Derry not want him to resign? I thought he done the honourable thing. Same as with Shels when neither himself nor his players got paid for weeks on end, they still went on and won the league. True professional. Total gentleman. Very honest and honourable individual.
Great manager. Best in the league. If he follows his head will bring trophies back to Rovers. It would be a huge mistake on his part to stay at Bohs. He is a smart bloke so can't see him staying.
MariborKev
04/12/2008, 12:18 PM
Whilst not going over old ground, there are number of issues surrounding his tenure at Derry in which his behaviour was far from professional or honourable.
Jersey Cow
04/12/2008, 12:24 PM
True professional. Total gentleman. Very honest and honourable individual.
Great manager. Best in the league. If he follows his head will bring trophies back to Rovers. It would be a huge mistake on his part to stay at Bohs. He is a smart bloke so can't see him staying. ..........is this the same Pat we all know and love?? :eek::eek:
passinginterest
04/12/2008, 12:27 PM
Michael O'Neill would be a good choice though his knowledge about the League may not be great!....best of luck to him if he gets it....on the Bohs subject, surely heads should role at Bohs board level regarding the losing of Connor's case as well as the land deal fiasco a few weeks back.....who exactly is responsible???
He played with Jim Crawford for a spell in England so there's a connection straight away they were both in the Reading squad in 1997/98 (http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.club.reading.1997-1998.317..en.html). It'd be an interesting appointment anyway.
MariborKev
04/12/2008, 12:32 PM
Michael O'Neill would be a good choice though his knowledge about the League may not be great!....best of luck to him if he gets it....on the Bohs subject, surely heads should role at Bohs board level regarding the losing of Connor's case as well as the land deal fiasco a few weeks back.....who exactly is responsible???
O'Neill knows enough about the League- I have seen him at the Brandywell numerous times over the years.
He also does a fair bit for BBC NI so would know the standard etc.
passinginterest
04/12/2008, 2:54 PM
Sounds like the Connor settlement might have been exaggerated a fair bit. According to the Herald it was €50,000. Then again Aidan Fitzmaurice is a Bohs man so maybe he's trying to soften the blow. http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/irish/bohs-hope-to-keep-murphy-1563255.html
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