Courts / Dublin / Report

Judge dismisses bid by film censors for injunctions ahead of court proceedings

Summary

Two former Assistant Censors, Olga Bennett and Mairead Marron, aged in their 70s, applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop the Minister for Justice from dismissing them from their posts. They argued that the Minister's decision to terminate their appointments on 31 March was unlawful, cynical and made without a rational reason, and that they were entitled to be informed of the grounds for dismissal. The applicants sought declarations that they remained Assistant Censors, that the Minister's decision be quashed, and that the Minister communicate the reasons for termination. The Minister denied the claims and opposed the injunctions. Mr Justice Max Barrett, hearing only the injunction application, expressed sympathy for the women but declined to grant the injunctions, reasoning that the risk of injustice outweighed the potential benefit of preventing the Minister from undoing her decision. The court therefore refused to issue the requested interlocutory injunctions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge dismisses bid by film censors for injunctions ahead of court proceedings. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• March 31st Other
• 2017-05-05 Publication

Why: They also seek declarations that the reason for their termination from office must be communicated to them, and that the process being used by the Minister is unlawful in the absence of a rational reason. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report