I was only staff member to miss 40pc bonus - Quinn Jr

SEAN Quinn Jr has claimed he was the only employee among Quinn Insurance's 2,500 staff who did not receive a 40pc bon

The son of businessman Sean Quinn also said he was not awarded an additional €40,000-a-year bonus paid to directors at the end of five years with the former firm.

Mr Quinn said all employees received an average bonus of 40pc, but that this could be as high as 80pc.

But the 35-year-old told the Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday he had not received the bonus during his latter years with the company.

The tribunal also heard that Mr Quinn had been appointed claims director in December 2006, but that he was dismissed months before he became eligible for the five-year bonus.

Mr Quinn, who was employed by the company for 11 years before he was made redundant in August 2011, had earned a salary of €75,000, short of bonuses.

It was also claimed Mr Quinn accepted a role as general director of Russian company Logistica on June 2, 2011, on the same day he met with joint administrator Michael McAteer to discuss his future with Quinn Insurance.

Barrister for Mr McAteer Conor Power SC said Mr Quinn had taken on a contractor role with the firm, and a second role with another Russian company, Finnanstroy, in May 2011, while he was still an employee at Quinn Insurance.

Mr Power said it was "highly significant" that Mr Quinn was earning a salary of €400,000 from these roles, which he said raised the issue of Mr Quinn's capacity to do his job with Quinn Insurance.

Mr Quinn said he had not told Mr McAteer he had been appointed general director of Logistica at the meeting, and also admitted he did not ask for permission from senior management to take on either role.

Mr Quinn told the tribunal that after wide-scale redundancies were announced on April 30, 2011, Mr McAteer told him he need not attend any further senior management meetings.

Mr Quinn said: "I expressed my frustration, that I felt he was picking on me."

He said he was later asked by Mr McAteer to take redundancy, an offer he refused.

"I said I wouldn't, because it was my family's intention to become involved in the company again as shareholders.

"He said that was highly unlikely."

In a letter dated June 20, 2011, Mr McAteer notified Mr Quinn that he was not a suitable candidate for the positions available within the company.

Mr McAteer said a role he had taken on in the UK no longer existed and that he was being dismissed, the tribunal heard.

Mr Quinn is seeking compensation of €3,365.37 per week since August 2011.