Ports plan appeal over McMahon verdict

Portadown Football Club directors will tomorrow (Friday) seek clarification from the office of Industrial Tribunals following £7,000 awarded in favour of former player Peter McMahon.
Former Portadown player Peter McMahon leaving the Industrial Tribunals hearing in Belfast. Pic by Pacemaker Press.Former Portadown player Peter McMahon leaving the Industrial Tribunals hearing in Belfast. Pic by Pacemaker Press.
Former Portadown player Peter McMahon leaving the Industrial Tribunals hearing in Belfast. Pic by Pacemaker Press.

Club officials were informed tonight of the verdict in Belfast to McMahon - understood as relating to “unpaid wages” - despite the Ports claiming to hold correspondence confirming a postponement of any hearing.

Portadown officials remain confused over a decision made without any representatives of the club present and will now prepare an appeal.

The case was taken by McMahon in response to a decision in early 2016 by Portadown to suspend the player’s wages.

The club took the step with full support from the Irish Football Association on the grounds that McMahon’s decision to refuse a course of medical treatment prescribed by an independent consultant was a “breach of contract”.

It is understood that stance was backed at the time in writing by the game’s officials then upheld at a subsequent IFA tribunal.

McMahon became a free agent at the end of the 2015/16 season.

“The player has not turned up to his place of employment or provided the club with any written medical advice contrary to that provided by the consultant,” stated a club spokesman. “As our representative has been on holidays and only received the notification in the last few days, he applied in writing to have the hearing postponed, as a long-standing engagement was scheduled for today.

“This submission was acknowledged by the Employment Tribunal, however they decided to hold it in our absence.

“Portadown FC will be appealing the decision as they feel that all the evidence supports the club’s decision to withhold payment to the player.”

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