Zoom Dennis defending himself in the Boland tribunal

Ron Dennis says 'ridiculous' claims by a sacked former employee that he is racist and homophobic have damaged his reputation.

The 61-year-old on Monday travelled to an employment tribunal in Southampton, as his former private airline steward Peter Boland alleges he was improperly dismissed amid untrue rumours he is gay.

Last week, the 27-year-old told the tribunal that Dennis, Group CEO of the Woking based outfit partly owned by Saudi-born Mansour Ojjeh as well as the Kingdom of Bahrain, had been racially insensitive to Arab business colleagues on numerous occasions.

Dennis said he decided to appear personally at the tribunal to address "lies that have damaged my reputation."

"My primary purpose for being here are to ensure these untruths are rectified," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

He called the allegation about him being racist an "absolute lie" and "ridiculous."

"I am here to defend my reputation which has been badly damaged. I am massively frustrated that things can be said and not challenged until they have been put into print," Dennis added.

Earlier on Monday, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan said he has known Dennis well since the mid 1970s. "Ron is no racist; Ron is no homophobe; and Ron is a fantastic employer," the Irishman insisted.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International