Northern Ireland

Former senior fire officer and U105 DJs to feature in employment case hearings this week

Peter O'Reilly resigned from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service after six months. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire
Peter O'Reilly resigned from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service after six months. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire

The former chief fire officer who resigned after only six months in charge will face his former employer this week at a tribunal hearing.

Peter O'Reilly is understood to resigned from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in March last year.

It was reported at the time that he was frustrated by the slow progress in his efforts to modernise the service.

The senior firefighter, who is originally from Co Antrim, was the chief fire officer in Greater Manchester at the time of the 2017 bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.

His case is listed to be heard by a tribunal on Thursday and Friday.

Also listed for hearing is a case involving some of the biggest names in regional commercial radio.

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The claimants Elizabeth Cullen; John Patrick Cullen (AKA Johnny Hero); David Anthony Johnson; Andrew (Jerry) Lang; Angela Denise Scott; Carolyn Ann Stewart, and Stephen Woods are presenters at radio station U105.

The three-day hearing is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The basis of the claims against Wireless Group-owned U105 is not known.

Johnny Hero presents U105 Drive on weekday evenings, while Mr Johnson presents Sunday Best.

Mr Lang presents weekend shows, Ms Stewart fills the station's early afternoon slot on week days.

U105 was launched in November 2005 and has a weekly audience of 280,000.