DPP's District Court | localnews.ie

2025-11-18 · Clare

Prosecutor who claimed he was overlooked for murder cases due to drink problem loses discrimination claim

Michael Murphy, a solicitor with the Director of Public Prosecutions, brought an equality claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging discrimination because of his alcoholism. He claimed he was denied the opportunity to prepare murder cases and that his condition was not accommodated. The Workplace Relations Commission, after hearing evidence that Murphy had undergone residential treatment for alcoholism in early 2019 and had disclosed his condition to his line manager, found that his allegations were speculative. The adjudicator noted that Murphy had not formally requested a transfer or accommodation for health reasons and that his claims of unfair treatment were not supported by evidence. Consequently, the WRC rejected Murphy's claim, ruling that he had not been treated less favourably by the DPP. The decision was published on 18 November 2025.

2025-03-26 · Clare

'Nothing stays secret for very long in that office': DPP solicitor claims he is being discriminated against as recovering alcoholic

Michael Murphy, a solicitor at the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office since 2002 and a prosecutor since 2017, has lodged a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging discrimination because he is a recovering alcoholic. He claims the DPP denied him the opportunity to prepare a murder case and failed to transfer him out of the District Court section, which he describes as an "A&E environment." Murphy disclosed his alcoholism to his line manager after a seven‑week residential treatment in early 2019, stating he had been dealing with anxiety, depression and sleepless nights related to court work. He has sought a less court‑heavy post since February 2021 but has not succeeded. The DPP's chief prosecution solicitor, Helena Kiely, acknowledged awareness of his condition but cited pandemic staffing pressures and the need to staff a sexual offences unit as reasons for not granting a transfer.