Garda whistleblower challenges private WRC hearing in High Court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Detective Superintendent Brian O'Reilly is challenging in the High Court a Workplace Relations Commission decision to exclude the media from his hearing over claims that he was penalised and had his pay reduced after making protected disclosures. The WRC had accepted that the case contained sensitivities that should not be made public.

On Wednesday, 4 March 2026, counsel for Brian O'Reilly successfully applied for an expedited leave application to be heard on Thursday. Mr Justice Garret Simons is to hear the judicial review application challenging the proposed press coverage ban.