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Pilot accused Aer Lingus of 'witch hunt' after personnel file data breach complaint
Summary
A pilot accused Aer Lingus of conducting a 'witch hunt' after he raised concerns about a potential data breach involving sensitive personal information on the airline's internal systems. Dale Connolly, a captain with Aer Lingus, filed complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991, alleging he was penalized for whistleblowing. He discovered that personal data, including birth certificates, private emails, and police records, were accessible on the airline's intranet. Connolly reported the issue, but the airline claimed it was a 'settings issue' that had been resolved. Later, he found additional sensitive information, including personal emails and police records, and raised concerns with the Data Protection Commissioner. Connolly felt intimidated after another pilot shared screenshots with the airline's chief technical pilot, leading to a disciplinary meeting and a verbal warning. He claims the warning has hindered his career progression. The airline argued that his concerns were properly addressed and that his actions were not protected under whistleblower laws. The case is ongoing, with the adjudicator having adjourned the matter to a future date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pilot accused Aer Lingus of 'witch hunt' after personnel file data breach complaint. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 30 October 2024 Other
- 31 October 2024 Other
- 4 November Other
- November 2024 Other
- 2026-01-23 Publication
Why: At a hearing yesterday, Captain Connolly explained that to secure time off and preferred duties during peak season, pilots had to "bid" for it on a company intranet platform, with planners taking into account factors like seniority and past history of working unpopular dates. CNI source report
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