Fiddler Received €43,000 In A Case Against Michael English

A former fiddler was awarded €43,000 in an unfair dismissal case that was rejected by the tribunal a few years ago. The fiddler was an employee for Michael English’s gig who had to undergo unethical dismissal, accused of breaches of employment right by the management of the star.

Michael English’s company, MEPC Music Ltd and its management denied the claims of the fiddler, Matt McGranaghan. MEPC Music said that he was a contractor who worked from “gig to gig” for six years.

(Also read: Man Detained After Apparently Ordering Romanians in Derry to ‘Speak English’)

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled out that the fiddler/musician was deprived of his employment rights and was unfairly sacked by the music company’s management. The dismissal took place in 2021 after an issue was resolved regarding employment rights.

The tribunal decision was disclosed early this morning. The decision marks the first time in the history of contracts of the entertainment industry that applied principles of the Supreme Court on such distinguished employees.

The acting barrister who was working from the band’s management side showed “the original form of the gig economy”.

Matt McGranaghan, the fiddler, first filed his case last year under the Unfair Dismissals Act of 1977 and other relevant employment statutes. He confessed in the court that he was in the court as a result of the recording, the proof of the unfairness.

Mr McGranaghan said that he secretly recorded Mr English’s conversation with his management in August 2021 where he was asking them to make the band members the “non-runners”.

In the recording, the singer was allegedly saying, “I’ve too many things going on and I’m going to continue hiring musicians the same way I’ve always done for the last 22 years. If that doesn’t suit any of ye I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know now”.

Fiddler’s proofs for his case

While the tribunal was hearing the case, Mr McGranaghan told them with proof that he was not notified beforehand before he was terminated. He mentioned that he received an email in which it was cited that his services are no longer required in the coming month.

Also, no notice of pay was mentioned, especially for the work that he had already done for Michael English.

Further, the complainant narrated a previous incident in the company two years before when he asked Michael English about his employment status. Mr English clearly said that his band manager and music promoter, Paul Claffey, wanted the fiddler to be “gone”.

Another incident was reported against Mr English where he said to Matt McGranaghan, that it is not difficult for him to hire ten more fiddlers in place of him. He allegedly said that he just has to pick up the phone as he is quite famous and is not “difficult to work for”.

The statement was uttered to the instrumentalist while at a meeting at the Kildare Village shopping centre in May 2019 when Mr English said he is “100 times busier than any other band and I can do that”.

WRC adjudicator Caroline Reidy listened to the comprehensive evidence that both sides presented at the court. Mr McGranaghan said that he is narrating the same evidence that he submitted at a preliminary hearing in 2023. While the band’s acting barrister denied all the material being aired as proof.

Mr McGranaghan’s representative said he earned 98.7 per cent of his income through MEPC Music Ltd which was a joint venture of Mr English and Mr Claffey. The fiddler made €50,000 annually after playing for 220 gigs each year. Rather than being a long-term employee, he was handled more like a contractor.

The adjudicator, Miss Reidy said the instrumentalist’s dismissal was entirely unfair and that he should be compensated for his six month’s salary, a sum of €26,880 as a result of the breach of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.