Courts / Ireland / Report

Landmark case sees State ordered to pay €2.8m into firm's insolvent pension fund

Summary

In a landmark insolvency claim, the State was ordered to pay €2.84 million into the pension fund of former Protim Abrasives Ltd employees. The claim, brought by Kieran Wallace of Interpath Advisory, challenged the State's refusal to contribute a larger sum to the scheme in 2022. The tribunal found that the relevant contribution at the time of the company's 2009 liquidation was €3.7 million, not the €6.1 million later sought. After accounting for €876,000 recovered in liquidation, the adjudicator ruled the Minister for Enterprise must pay €2.84 million. The decision highlighted that capital contributions to a defined‑benefit pension can be treated as relevant contributions under the 1984 Act, and that the State could not justify the larger figure as a "coach and four" through the legislation. The ruling affirms the State's liability to fund the pension deficit.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Landmark case sees State ordered to pay €2.8m into firm's insolvent pension fund. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• October 2023 Other
• 15 September 2008 Other
• 2024-12-20 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report