Courts / Ireland / Report

Private school principal who shredded work diaries after being accused of running rival business loses claim

Summary

Karl Hegarty, former principal of Leinster Senior College, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the Workplace Relations Commission found that he had destroyed work diaries during an investigation into a rival grinds business he ran. The WRC held that Hegarty's destruction of the diaries "entirely undermined his credibility" and that he had been dismissed for gross misconduct, including setting up a competing school. Hegarty argued he had permission to provide private career guidance and that his business added to the college's profile, but the school's owner said he had no knowledge of the venture until late 2022. The tribunal noted Hegarty had been suspended on full pay during the investigation and that he offered to cease trading after the suspension. The adjudicator concluded that dismissal was an appropriate sanction and rejected Hegarty's complaint.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Private school principal who shredded work diaries after being accused of running rival business loses claim. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 20 January Other
• December 2022 Other
• May 2022 Other
• 21 December 2023 Other
• Friday 13 January 2023 Other
• 20 January 2023 Other
• 2023 and 2024 Other
• 2025-07-10 Publication

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report