Courts / Kildare / Report
Journalist 'victimised and penalised' by animal rescue charity, solicitor says
Summary
A journalist has accused an animal rescue charity of penalising her for making protected disclosures and has argued that she has either been suspended for the past two years or unfairly dismissed. Alison O'Reilly, a newspaper reporter, broadcaster and author, has filed complaints against Kildare Wildlife Rescue under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, and the Equal Status Act 2000. The details were disclosed at a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) case management hearing on Tuesday. Ms O'Reilly's solicitor, Gerard Cullen, said his client had made protected disclosures and had been victimised and penalised in a very gross fashion. His client had raised concerns with the charity in relation to public health. After a suspension took effect on 1 July 2024, his client was subject to non-engagement from the charity. Mr Cullen characterised Ms O'Reilly's involvement with the charity as an employment relationship for the purposes of the Protected Disclosures Act. Kildare Wildlife Rescue disputes this position.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Journalist 'victimised and penalised' by animal rescue charity, solicitor says. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 1 July 2024 Other
- 2026-07-07 Publication
Why: He said he would seek to hear evidence on the question of any remuneration for work done by Ms O'Reilly, in order to consider if he was required to "embark on a deeper examination" of whether she had gained status as an employee. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: He gave the complainant's solicitor four weeks to file legal submissions setting out in writing the alleged protected disclosures and any detriments she was alleged to have suffered, and adjourned.
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