Courts / Ireland / Report

High Court orders halt to Garda manager WRC case over gag on naming witness

Date
2025-02-27

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Summary

The High Court has ordered a halt to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearings in a case brought by Bridget Casey-Mulligan, a senior civilian manager at Garda headquarters. Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted an interim injunction after finding grounds to suggest WRC adjudication officer Máire Mulcahy exceeded her jurisdiction by imposing reporting restrictions. Ms Casey-Mulligan, who alleged whistleblower penalisation and unlawful salary deduction, sought judicial review regarding these restrictions and a separate challenge concerning the adjudicator taking external advice during a recess. Justice Simons expressed concern that the adjudicator purported to impose her own reporting limits, citing Supreme Court precedent on the publicity of adjudication proceedings. He granted leave for the judicial review into the adjudicator's conduct and the press direction. However, he refused an application to restrict reporting on Ms Casey-Mulligan's medical situation, noting the irony of a party seeking anonymity while challenging others' naming, though he allowed the application to be renewed later. The matter was adjourned pending the High Court's consideration of the legal challenge to the WRC's procedural directions. The application was brought ex-parte against the adjudicator, with the Government, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Garda Commissioner identified as notice parties.