Courts / Dublin / Report

'Utterly bitter': restaurant group founder had car seized outside Labour Court, WRC hears

Date
2023-05-31
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

The founder of a Dublin restaurant group, Padraic Hanley, had his car seized outside the Labour Court by the new management while he was inside pursuing an appeal against his dismissal, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A barrister representing one of Hanley's sons argued that the confiscation highlighted the "utterly bitter" nature of the dispute. The tribunal noted the failure of negotiations aimed at resolving the three-year legal dispute between the Hanley family and the new owners of PBR Restaurants Ltd, who acquired the firm during its examinership in 2019. The WRC found defects in the redundancy processes and ruled the dismissals of David and Philip Hanley as unfair, awarding them €50,000. Padraic Hanley's claim was dismissed as he was not an employee prior to the examinership. Stephen Hanley, the middle brother, claimed that the redundancy process used outdated trading figures and that a proposed role paying €14 an hour would not be viable after tax.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Utterly bitter': restaurant group founder had car seized outside Labour Court, WRC hears. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: "The reason you can't answer questions about redundancy is because it had nothing to do with redundancy," Mr Kinsley said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Stephen Hanley

Applicant

Outcome: A fourth claim by Stephen Hanley, the middle brother and the longest-serving of the sons working in the group, was adjourned in March, when the family's barrister said an outline agreement had been reached between the parties.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • High Court

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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