An air conditioning technician pursuing his former employer for unpaid wages says accusations that he was drug-driving in a company van and doing work under the influence are “false claims based on wind”. The company maintains Mr Collins owes it a “counter-debt” of around €3,500 because of the alleged state of the work van after its seizure. “Because of the way Mr Collins had dealt with [the van], we had to fumigate it and clean it out.”Adjudication officer Penelope McGrath asked Mr Collins for his response. I’m here to get the money I’m owed,” he said. “I just left the van outside my house and went about my business,” Mr Collins said.

Source: The Irish Times February 11, 2026 13:47 UTC