The general manager of an international company based in Ireland has told the High Court that he suffered an acute mental breakdown due to an unmanageable workload and work stress.

John Farrell has taken legal action against components firm Mergon International where he has been employed for ten years and was one of ten employees to previously receive a performance- related bonus of €100,000.

The 46-year-old said, during that time, he had taken on new roles and had been promoted to general manager but became extremely unwell in 2021 as a deadline to submit a budget was approaching.

Mr Farrell, from Lanesboro in Co Longford, told the court he had asked for a one-week extension but was refused and, as a result, he became unwell, was overwhelmed and "snapped".

In the witness box, he said: "I tried to get on with it. I was not well. I was not sleeping. I was sick. I could not cope with it.

Mr Farrell said he asked his wife was it OK if he did not work at Mergon anymore and when she asked him why he said: "So I don’t have to kill myself".

"There was no way out," he added. "It was not going to end any other way." Mr Farrell said that he collapsed on the floor crying and was referred by a doctor for treatment.

He has sued Mergon International, with a registered address in Bermuda and an Irish branch at Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, for what he claims was a significantly increased workload resulting in him being exposed to prolonged work-related stress and suffering a severe psychological injury.

Mr Farrell also claimed he was required to undertake a level of work that was unsafe and posed a danger to his health and a risk of him suffering a psychological injury.

He alleged too that there was a failure to provide him with any adequate assistance and additional personnel or to monitor his workload or provide him with any support.

In addition, Mr Farrell contended that unrealistic deadlines were imposed and there was a failure to act on representations made by him with respect to his workload.

Mergon International has denied the claims, saying that Mr Farrell agreed to all of the promotions, never complained and said no, and never availed of the grievances process within the company.

The case continues tomorrow.