A convicted conman who tried to sue firms for millions withheld almost £5000 in wages from an employee before being found dead.
Christopher Ireland – previously jailed for fraud and branded a “Walter Mitty” over a series of failed businesses – was found dead in his Dundee flat in January. Now an employment tribunal has ruled he “unlawfully” withheld £4890 from an employee in the months before his death.
A judgment revealed an admin assistant found out about her boss’s death when the Record reported it. The tribunal ordered Ireland and his firm Jute, Jam and Journalism Group to pay the assistant three months of missing wages.
Ireland, who called himself “Dr Christopher Ireland”, was jailed in April 2012 after admitting five fraud charges in which almost £50,000 was lost by creditors. Perth Sheriff Court heard Ireland set up a string of fake firms and conned suppliers into providing office furniture, fire safety equipment and food. Companies House links him to 52 failed businesses and Ireland was also connected to doomed lawsuits seeking to sue firms for millions in claims.
His latest firm was painted as a successful hospitality chain. Tribunal judge Ian McFatridge said Ireland had not responded to the claim and he considered him to be dead, though had no confirmation of it.
He said he “did not see any reason not to make an award against the respondent”. Police believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Ireland’s death.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
