Courts / Cork / Report
Prison officer who went AWOL to fight in Ukraine brings unfair dismissal case
Summary
Brian Meagher, a prison officer, was dismissed by the Irish Prison Service after he absented himself without permission to fight in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. He was wounded in an ambush on 5 September 2022 and later gave a TV interview from his hospital bed. The Prison Service's HR directorate received rumours that he had gone to war and, after failing to contact him, considered his absence as AWOL. The absence management office sent a letter on 21 September 2022 stating his absence was unauthorised and recommended dismissal. The case was referred to the director‑general and the Department of Justice, which ultimately dismissed him in February 2023. Meagher has lodged an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, and the Workplace Relations Commission has adjourned the hearing to a future date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Prison officer who went AWOL to fight in Ukraine brings unfair dismissal case. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 5 September 2022 Other
- September 2022 Other
- September 21st Other
- 7 October 2022 Other
- February 2023 Other
- 5 September 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2022 Adjournment
- 2024-11-06 Publication
Why: The absence management official added that because it seemed Mr Meagher was "not in a condition to fulfil" his contract of employment, the office would consider recommending that consideration be given by more senior officials to dismissal, and invited him to respond. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Irish Prison
- Mountjoy Prison
- The prison
- Cork University Hospital
Topics
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