Mark Allen hopes for a break in his 'lost wages' case

SNOOKER star Mark Allen has challenged the Department for the Economy over reports he did not receive wages after a management company that processed his winnings folded.

A preliminary hearing for an industrial tribunal was heard in Belfast on Thursday.

The sums involved were not disclosed, but it has been reported that the local man has earned over £1 million since the start of the 2022 season.

The Antrim ace was represented by the MJ Kane Accountancy firm.

It is understood that following proceedings for a previous divorce case, Mr Allen had been told he could no longer receive a salary from Mark Allen Sports Club Ltd.

Since he was technically an employee of the company and was i receipt of a wage, Mr Allen then applied to the Department for the Economy to recover his lost pay – a function that can be covered by the department’s insolvency service.

In December 2022, Mr Allen was informed he was unsuccessful and he had three months to appeal.

During this week’s hearing, Judge Conor Hamill heard that the MJ Kane firm had attempted to file the appeal within the deadline of March 7, 2023 - but they believed they were unable to without a certificate from the Labour Relations Agency.

This was received by March 17, but the appeal was still not formally lodged until April 5 that year.

Michael Kane from MJ Kane told the court this was in part because he was undergoing hospital treatment in March, and the appeal process was more complicated than they had initially believed.

The department have stated there was ‘no reasonable excuse’ for the delay, and that the appeal should not be granted after the company had waited until ‘the eleventh hour’.

A barrister for the department, Mr Corkey, said it was also not accepted the process was overly complicated and that it amounted to ‘a fundamental failure by MJ Kane accountants to manage this in an appropriate way’.

The Irish News has reported that the case has now been adjourned for further evidence before a decision on whether a full tribunal will take place.