A senior Clare Council official has said he feared there was a "very serious risk to loss of life" at a 2010 stand-off involving a former council foreman.
The comments came at an Employment Appeals Tribunal in Ennis, in which Joseph Floyd Snr. claims he was unfairly dismissed by the council after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
The armed Garda Emergency Response Unit, local Gardai and the Fire Service were called to the incident at Feakle on May 13th 2010, during which Joseph Floyd Snr. had a petrol can and lighter with him in his van, as he protested against the hiring of sub-contractors.
The Council gave evidence that he threatened to set himself and Council property alight, though the Tribunal heard Mr. Floyd is to dispute this.
The situation was later defused, after he received a letter stating he had not lost his job, but Head of Council HR at the time Leonard Cleary said this ‘was given under duress’…because he felt ‘there was a serious risk to loss of life.’
Mr Cleary also told yesterday’s tribunal that the local authority had "serious concerns" after Mr Floyd conducted an interview on Clare FM the following Monday.
That day, he was informed that he was suspended from the work, though Senior Council Engineer, Tom Tiernan confirmed an agreement did not refer to him not conducting media interviews.
After a disciplinary process, Joseph Floyd was found guilty of three charges of gross misconduct and in September 2011, he was removed from his position.
He claims this is unfair, and is to give give evidence in the case when it resumes in February.
