WRC rejects Valerie McDonagh’s claims over dismissal from St Vincent de Paul

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

The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Valerie McDonagh’s claims of whistleblower penalisation and unfair dismissal against the Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of Ireland. McDonagh, an HR officer, said she was dismissed in July 2024 after raising concerns about a new hire’s vetting documentation; the charity said her dismissal during probation was due to her performance and communication style.

The adjudicator found the charity had a genuine concern about McDonagh’s communication style and considered probationary dismissal on that basis legitimate and unrelated to any protected disclosure. The adjudicator also said there was no reasonable suggestion or evidence that the new hire posed a risk to children.