Courts / Louth / Report
Start-up ordered to pay co-founder who claimed redundancy was a 'sham'
Summary
In March 2022, the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Gecko Governance to pay nearly €8,000 to former chief technical officer Mark McHugh, who claimed his redundancy was a sham. McHugh had joined the start‑up in 2017 as chief technical officer of a reg‑tech software package for hedge funds. He said the company shifted focus to blockchain and crypto‑currency, a move he described as "extremely volatile and legally unsound." He alleged that management sidelined him, ignored his requests for staff, and ultimately dismissed him under a redundancy procedure after a major client cancelled its contract. McHugh's solicitor argued the redundancy was a cover for dismissal over interpersonal issues and that procedures were flawed. The adjudicating officer found the redundancy was procedurally and substantively unfair, noting the hiring of a new chief technical officer proved the role was not redundant.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Start-up ordered to pay co-founder who claimed redundancy was a 'sham'. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- June 2017 Other
- January 2018 Other
- May 2018 Other
- October 2019 Other
- May 2020 Other
- 2022-03-16 Publication
Why: The company's former chief technical officer Mark McHugh said he clashed with other founders at the Enterprise Ireland-backed start-up when they switched focus away from governance software for hedge funds in order to pursue blockchain technology and minting a crypto-currency. CNI source report
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