The general manager of an international company based in Ireland who claimed he suffered an acute mental breakdown due to an unmanageable workload and work stress has settled his High Court action.
John Farrell, from Lanesboro in Co Longford, had sued components firm Mergon International where he has been employed for ten years.
Today the court was told the case had settled on confidential terms.
In his evidence to the court on the opening day of the case, Mr Farrell said during his time with the company he had taken on new roles and had been promoted to general manager but became extremely unwell in 2021 as a deadline to submit a budget was approaching.
He said he had asked for a one week extension but was refused and as a result he became unwell, was overwhelmed and "snapped".
In the witness box he said "I tried to get on with it. I was not well. I was not sleeping. I was sick and could not cope with it".
Mr Farrell said he asked his wife was it okay if he did not work at Mergon anymore and when she asked why he said "so I don't have to kill myself".
"There was no way out," Mr Farrell added. "It was not going to end any other way."
He said he collapsed on the floor crying and was referred by a doctor for treatment.
He has sued Mergon International with a registered address in Bermuda and an Irish branch at Castlepollard, Co Westmeath for what he claims was a significantly increased workload resulting in him being exposed to prolonged work related stress and suffering a severe psychological injury.
He has also claimed he was allegedly required to undertake a level of work which was unsafe and posed a danger to his health and a risk of him suffering a psychological injury.
Mr Farrell also claims there was a failure to provide him with any adequate assistance and additional personnel or to monitor his workload or provide him with any support.
He has also contended unrealistic deadlines were allegedly imposed and there was a failure to act on representations made by him with respect to his workload.
Mergon International denied all the claims and had contended that Mr Farrell agreed to all of the promotions and allegedly never complained and said no and never availed of the grievances process within the company.
