Brian Meagher wins unfair dismissal case over AWOL absence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Brian Meagher won his unfair dismissal case against the Irish Prison Service at the Workplace Relations Commission, in a decision reported on 27 August 2025.

The WRC found that the Service had not adequately justified dismissing him in May 2023 and ordered his re-engagement within six weeks, subject to a six-month probationary period. It directed that his absence be treated as leave for calculating his salary increment and service benefits on re-engagement.

The decision followed his absence without permission to fight with the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. The adjudicator found that he did not intend to abandon his post, but also said he had failed to follow the proper procedure to obtain leave.

The WRC said the dismissal process lacked fair procedures, including a formal hearing where Meagher could explain his actions and challenge the findings against him. The adjudicator considered the unofficial shift-cover arrangement, his serious injuries and his inability to respond to correspondence among the circumstances relevant to the case.