In a Workplace Relations Commission decision, a hospitality manager who claimed he was subjected to a "constant stream of sexually inappropriate texts" from a senior colleague after a brief flirtation was awarded €45,000 for sexual harassment. The manager, Mr B, joined the firm in May 2021 and reported that Ms A, the financial controller, became flirty in August 2021 and attempted to kiss him in September, which he declined. He said they had two kisses over a three‑to‑four‑week period before he told her it had to stop and denied any relationship. Ms A then sent him repeated sexually inappropriate messages, photographs and videos via WhatsApp until July 2022, despite his clear refusals. Mr B ceased contact and blocked her number. The tribunal found the company's anti‑harassment procedures deficient and upheld the harassment claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998, but found no evidence of victimisation or constructive dismissal. The award was €45,000.
Wayne Higgins, 27, was convicted of raping a woman in Cork city on 28 August 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated, had asked Higgins to escort her to a bus stop after drinking with him. While stopped in a laneway, Higgins raped her in broad daylight. Neighbours shouted at him and threatened to call the Gardaí, but he replied, "It's just sex," and fled. The victim later testified that she could not identify him at the time and that DNA evidence linked him to the assault. Higgins, who had a history of drug, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment. The final year was suspended for three years on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service and has no contact with the victim. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his significant alcohol addiction. Wayne Higgins pleaded guilty.
Eoin Hannan, aged 50, was convicted in April 2022 of harassing a woman at various locations between February 14 and August 25 2020, and in July 2022 of harassing her father between January 20 and February 13 2021. The court heard that Hannan repeatedly contacted the victim despite Garda warnings in 2017 and 2019, sending Valentine cards, wine, chocolates, a watch, a bracelet, a teddy bear, a lollipop and a letter with a threatening phrase. He claimed the offences were "romantic rather than sinister" and a case of mistaken identity. Hannan, who has 44 prior convictions, argued that his bipolar affective disorder should have mitigated the sentence. Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe found no error in the sentencing judge's approach, noted that the judge had considered Hannan's mental health, and dismissed all grounds of appeal. The appeal was rejected, leaving the four‑year prison sentence in place. Eoin Hannan pleaded guilty.
A care worker at a nursing home for dementia patients claimed she was repeatedly subjected to unwanted intimate physical touching by a supervisor who often worked while drunk. She reported the incidents to the Workplace Relations Commission, citing a first incident on 30 December 2022 when the supervisor hugged her and rubbed her breast in front of patients, and a second on 24 February 2023 when he touched her buttocks while assisting a resident. The worker also found an empty rum bottle in the supervisor's bag and recorded it. The employer's internal investigation deemed the complaints unfounded, citing lack of evidence and witnesses. The WRC adjudicator found the worker's evidence persuasive and credible, ruling that she was sexually harassed on two occasions and suffered constructive dismissal. The tribunal awarded €25,000 for sexual harassment and €15,000 for constructive dismissal, totaling €40,000.
The Workplace Relations Commission heard complaints of constructive dismissal and gender discrimination against the Rotunda Hospital, brought by Kaitlyn Winston. The hospital's head of human resources, Joanne Connolly, admitted that a porter, identified as Mr G under a reporting restriction, was found to have sexually harassed Ms Winston in May 2022. Despite this finding, the hospital retained him on staff, issuing only a final written warning and transferring him to general duties with restrictions. Ms Winston alleged she remained in reasonable fear of further harassment after encountering Mr G in a stairwell in 2023. Her line manager, Jane Hickey, testified she was not informed the complaint was upheld and denied bias, stating she was unaware it was unsafe to keep the porter in her department. The hospital's general secretary, Jim Hussey, chaired the disciplinary process. The complainant's counsel argued the hospital failed to provide a safe environment, while the hospital's representative, Mark Comerford, stated the actions aligned with dignity at work policies. The adjudicator, Catherine Byrne, closed the hearing and is expected to issue a written decision in due course.
Owen Maughan, 22, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 65-year-old Christopher Hall. Maughan, of Dun Saithne Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to the sole count of murder during a pre-trial hearing last month. The court heard that Maughan murdered Mr Hall at his home in Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, between November 23 and 24, 2021. The sentence was backdated to July 4, 2022, when Maughan entered custody. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the focus rightly fell on the victim and his family. Prosecution evidence indicated Maughan had harassed and tormented the vulnerable victim, who had a brain injury, including directing him to ATMs to withdraw cash. A postmortem identified seven stab wounds to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head. Maughan has 39 previous convictions. Defence counsel stated Maughan was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and expressed remorse. The victim's daughter, Rebecca Hall, described the actions as "nothing but evil" and "senseless."
Eoin Hannan, aged 50, appealed a four‑year jail sentence imposed for harassing Ciara Hassett, claiming the punishment was too harsh for a case he described as "mistakenly sending romantic letters to the wrong girl." He was convicted in April 2022 after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for repeatedly contacting Hassett between February and August 2020, despite Garda warnings that she did not welcome his behaviour. Hannan also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of harassing Hassett's father between January and February 2021. He argued that his bipolar affective disorder and a psychotic episode in September 2023, which required treatment at the Central Mental Hospital, should have been considered. Hannan presented himself at the Court of Appeal, requesting a commutation or suspension of his sentence, while the State's counsel maintained that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the persistent, non‑violent offence and the impact on the victim. The court reserved judgment on the appeal.
A Defence Forces Tribunal, opened by Ms Justice Ann Power on 24 June 2024, is investigating how the Defence Forces handle abuse claims, including sexual assault, torture, bullying and harassment. The tribunal invites members, civilians and civil servants to submit written statements by 16 August. It will gather statements, assess evidence, notify affected parties, and hold oral hearings where witnesses may be cross‑examined. The tribunal is inquisitorial, not adversarial, and will not make findings of fact or criminality. It aims to establish the truth about the complaints process and the culture surrounding complaints, and will report to the Taoiseach within three years. The tribunal also examines the forces' response to hazardous chemical use at Casement Aerodrome. Submissions can be emailed, called or mailed to the tribunal's address.
A mixed-race worker has been awarded €5,000 in compensation for racial harassment following a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The adjudicator, Orla Jones, found that comments allegedly made by a supervisor, identified as Ms H, in a work canteen on 19 July 2023 created an intimidating and offensive environment for the complainant. The worker alleged that Ms H made hateful remarks regarding immigrants, stating they were 'mixing with us.' While the employer's investigation could not confirm or deny the comments, and Ms H denied making them in that context, the tribunal was satisfied the remarks had the effect of harassment. The decision was anonymised due to overlapping matters under an Industrial Relations Act claim. Ms Jones ruled the complaint well-founded, noting it was unsatisfactory that the employer failed to engage further on a transfer request, which she deemed a failure to reverse the effects of harassment. However, she rejected claims of less favourable treatment regarding the transfer refusal and any allegation that the worker was penalised for making the complaint. The case was concluded with the award of compensation.
Two social care workers, Mr X and Ms Y, lost claims for sexual harassment and discrimination after a child's unsubstantiated allegation that they had sex on night duty at a residential home. The boy, Boy YP, reported hearing the workers and later contacted Ms Y's girlfriend, alleging a relationship between the workers. Mr X said the allegation was a rumor spread by a former colleague, Mr CD, who he claimed had coerced the boy. Ms Y said she was subjected to intrusive questioning about her sexuality by managers and that the company's policy on pay during investigations was changed after her complaint. Both workers were suspended without pay, later resigned, and the Workplace Relations Commission found that the investigation meetings were stressful and that the workers had not established discrimination on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation or family status.
During a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle's legal representative, Mary‑Paula Guinness BL, argued that Ogle would still hold a full role at Unite the Union if not for his cancer diagnosis. Ogle, who returned to work as Unite's senior officer for the Republic of Ireland after treatment for aggressive throat cancer, claims he was discriminated against because of his disability. Guinness cited evidence that a union employee stopped sending work to Ogle, though she said no one instructed her to do so. Unite's counsel, Mark Harty SC, contended that Ogle had refused available roles upon his return and that the evidence was being mischaracterised as a disability claim. Ogle's allegations include failure to provide reasonable accommodation, victimisation and harassment, and he has accused the union of excluding him from a new strategic plan for Ireland. The tribunal has heard conflicting accounts from Ogle and Tom Fitzgerald, who was promoted during Ogle's sick leave.
In a preliminary hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, Brendan Burke, a senior project manager at Bretland Construction Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed after sending a mass email to nearly 40 staff. Burke says he was told to apologise and accept a demotion, with a threat that failure to sign would result in dismissal. He asserts the company denies dismissal and insists he resigned on 15 November 2023, the day after the email. Burke seeks €20,000 for loss of earnings and alleges unpaid deductions. The company, represented by Jerry Lane, argues Burke committed major misconduct, citing the email as harassment and insubordination, and claims Burke declined to sign the apology letter. The tribunal is considering the burden of proof under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, with no decision yet made. The case is scheduled for further hearing in September.
Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O'Doherty in the High Court have been adjourned to July following a request for time to address allegations concerning third party funding of the plaintiff's case. Ms O'Doherty has claimed that champerty and maintenance laws have been breached, citing a fundraiser allegedly organised for Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, County Cavan, which she says raised over €24,000, with many donors remaining anonymous. Ms Campbell's legal team denies any wrongdoing and rejects the allegations. The case arises from Ms Campbell's claim that Ms O'Doherty, trading as "The Irish Light", used an unauthorised image of her late son Diego Gilsenan in an article. An injunction was previously secured restraining Ms O'Doherty from harassing Ms Campbell. The defendant denies breaching that order and rejects all allegations against her. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey directed both parties to exchange further sworn statements before the matter returns to court.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, former Iceland employee Jeanette Joyce alleged that Naeem Maniar, the owner of Iceland's Irish stores, threatened her with a lawsuit targeting her personal property if she and her colleagues went on strike. Joyce said she received late‑night texts accusing her trade union of "playing dirty" and spreading "false news and propaganda." She claimed she was a shop steward for the Independent Workers' Union and that she had been harassed and bullied by Maniar, including being served legal papers for "unlawful industrial action." Joyce also reported wage withholding after the strike, delayed payment of €265.45 net wages, and hostile payroll emails. She filed a grievance for harassment and bullying, but no action was taken before the store entered liquidation. The case is pending adjudication by the WRC.
A cleaner who was admonished for wearing 'form-fitting cycling leggings' and later dismissed after rejecting his manager's romantic advances has won €10,000 in compensation for sexual harassment and discriminatory dismissal. The worker, a former soldier, claimed that his relationship with his manager, identified as Ms A, deteriorated rapidly after he turned down her advances during a lunch meeting in February 2023. He stated that prior to this, he had been praised for his work and was considered one of the best cleaners. Following his rejection, the manager allegedly began criticizing his work performance and raised issues about his uniform. The employer argued that the dismissal was due to performance issues and uniform violations, but the tribunal found that the worker had been subjected to harassment and discrimination on the grounds of gender. The adjudicator ruled that the dismissal was not unconnected to the harassment and awarded €10,000 in compensation.
During a sixth day of the Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle's disability discrimination complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 was heard. Ogle, who returned to work after treatment for throat cancer, accused Unite of failing to provide reasonable accommodation, victimisation and harassment. Senior Unite officer Tom Fitzgerald testified that he was not involved in any plan to remove Ogle. Fitzgerald denied that he had told Ogle that Unite's new general secretary Sharon Graham had directed him to exclude Ogle from a new strategy for Ireland. He said he had no record of such a meeting and that any whiteboard drawings were made by Ogle. Ogle's allegations were based on emails and a Facebook post by his wife. The tribunal will adjourn to tomorrow morning for cross‑examination of Fitzgerald.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, former Unite boss Mandy La Combre testified that her husband Brendan Ogle's Facebook post on 11 September 2022 criticised the union and was intended to pre‑empt "trolling" from council water workers upset over an industrial agreement. La Combre said she feared a repeat of earlier online harassment and wanted to "put it to bed." She claimed Ogle had been "frozen out of staff and activist meetings" and that a move to a reduced role in Dundalk had been attempted. The union's former chairman, Tony Woodhouse, had spoken at a conference about "lies" on social media, prompting Ogle to issue legal proceedings against Woodhouse for defamation. Unite's counsel argued that La Combre's post was a "hand grenade" and that the Irish Examiner had published her contact details. The tribunal heard that Ogle's lawyers failed to secure a summons of Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, as a witness.
A 54‑year‑old maintenance man was sentenced to four years in prison after he installed hidden cameras in a friend's apartment and secretly recorded her for seven months in 2021. He recorded her during intimate moments, edited the footage by drawing love hearts around her private parts, and repeatedly entered her apartment to change camera positions. When she discovered a camera and tried to cover it, he sent a threatening message telling her not to touch it. He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment, two counts of burglary and five counts of recording without consent. The court imposed a 20‑year no‑contact order and a four‑year custodial sentence, citing the gross invasion of privacy and the aggravating factor of their long friendship. No prior convictions were noted. The victim, a childminder who had moved to Ireland in 2008, reported the incident to Gardaí in December 2021. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Le Wang, a 42‑year‑old taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house between December 2022 and March 2023. He secretly filmed her twice in the shower and attempted a third time, hiding his phone in a laundry basket. When she discovered the phone, he threatened to ruin her reputation and harassed her for three months, sending threatening texts and attempting contact via social media. Gardaí seized his phone and found the videos, which were deleted and then restored. Wang pleaded guilty and was given a 16‑month suspended sentence, with a ten‑year prohibition on any communication with the victim. He was remanded in custody for two weeks before the verdict and was released thereafter. No prior convictions were recorded.
A takeaway worker who had endured sexual harassment for a year and a half, citing financial pressure, finally quit after a chef slapped her across the breasts on 5 August 2023. She had previously reported the chef's inappropriate behaviour, including sweeping his hand across her breasts and calling her "Big Diddy Mama." The owner, who was present and laughed, admitted no camera evidence of the incident. The Workplace Relations Commission found the worker suffered breaches of employment rights, sexual harassment, and constructive dismissal. The adjudicator awarded €8,000 for sexual harassment, €2,750 for constructive dismissal, and an additional €6,122.75 for unpaid statutory entitlements and other rights breaches, totaling €16,872.75 in compensation. The case highlighted the employer's failure to prevent harassment and maintain proper payroll records.
In a Dublin suburb, 18‑year‑old Jasmine Olaru, then a secondary school student, worked at a Dominos Pizza shop in February 2022. She alleged repeated sexual harassment by colleagues, including propositions for sex, being told to "do OnlyFans", and receiving a badge with her name and a picture of breasts. She also claimed a deputy manager threatened to "spank" her with a pizza‑scooping shovel, asked if he could watch her change, and that she was denied breaks under the Organisation of Working Time Act. Olaru reported the incidents to the Workplace Relations Commission. The tribunal found Remo Foods Ltd had breached the Employment Equality Act and the Working Time Act, awarding her €13,000 for sexual harassment, €3,000 for victimisation, and €3,000 for lack of breaks, totalling €19,000. The company was also ordered to review its anti‑harassment policies. The case was decided in September 2024.
A female Garda has taken her case to the High Court after she alleged sexual harassment by a male sergeant and claimed she was then victimised by a female superior. She says the sergeant behaved inappropriately at a mortuary, sent her phone a suggestive message, and made sexual comments. She reported this to a female superior, who she says disclosed the complaint to the sergeant. The Garda claims the superior was unhappy with the formal complaint and interfered with the process. The court heard that the sergeant was suspended and the superior stripped of duties. The Garda was later found to have breached Garda discipline for alleged unacceptable conduct with her superior and for posting Garda matters on social media. She appealed unsuccessfully and now seeks to overturn the disciplinary findings, arguing the process was flawed and unfair. The case is set to return to court next month.
Maurice O'Carroll, a 63‑year‑old former Garda from Co. Wexford, was sentenced to two years in prison for harassing and threatening to kill an ex‑wife's solicitor and his wife between December 2019 and September 2020. He sent the solicitor five letters, one to the solicitor's wife accusing her husband of gambling, cheating, genocide, gun‑running and arms dealing, and another demanding she choose a child to die. The final letter contained a live and a spent bullet. O'Carroll also threatened the solicitor's children, saying they would be targeted and suffer great pain. He represented himself at trial, pleaded guilty, and offered a letter of apology and €20,000, which the victims declined. Judge Sarah Berkeley noted his low risk of re‑offending, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered him to refrain from contacting the victims for five years. The unnamed accused was found guilty.
Niall Colgan, 39, a former senior civil servant at the Department of Justice, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, including two indecent videos and two indecent images of children. The videos, one 1 minute 32 seconds long of a pre‑teen girl and another 1 minute 9 seconds long of a boy under ten, were category one material; the images were category two. Colgan admitted ownership of an iPhone from which the material was found after a Garda search on 1 February 2022. He was suspended from his role, resigned, and later faced a court hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year prison sentence fully suspended on strict conditions, with Colgan to be on the sex offenders register for five years. The court noted his good character, family support, and low risk of re‑offending, while also acknowledging the harassment he endured following the case.
Le Wang, 42, a taxi driver from Dundrum, was found guilty of harassing a Chinese student who had rented a room in his house. Between December 2022 and March 2023, Wang secretly filmed the student twice while she showered and attempted a third time when she discovered his phone hidden in a laundry basket. He threatened her with retaliation if she exposed the videos, sent harassing texts demanding she leave, and repeatedly tried to contact her via social media, culminating in 18 attempts before the harassment ceased on 11 March 2023. Gardaí seized his phone, uncovering the two videos and related screenshots. Wang had no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators, and was described as introverted with a low risk of reoffending. He was remanded in custody for two weeks pending sentencing on 16 May, where the judge will consider the case further.
In a tribunal ruling on 30 April 2024, the employment tribunal found that Mason Hayes and Curran LLP had discriminated against senior associate solicitor Oisín Gourley, who was dismissed after six months' probation in August 2023. The firm had failed to consider reasonable accommodation for Gourley's long Covid and depression before deciding he had failed his probation. The adjudicator, Marie Flynn, ordered the firm to pay Gourley €5,000 compensation and to retrain its managers on disability policies within three months. The tribunal rejected Gourley's further claims of discriminatory harassment, victimisation and dismissal under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The decision noted that the firm had not assessed Gourley's fitness for the role or explored accommodation options, and that the dismissal was taken without such an assessment. No other outcomes were reported.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Dara Deasy's claim that a hotel general manager racially harassed him by asking if he "knew Kung Fu" after learning of his Chinese heritage was rejected. Deasy, who worked part‑time at the Brandon Hotel from 31 March to 5 August 2023, alleged that manager Stephen Quinn used a "racial slur" and mocked him after Deasy tasted spring rolls on 8 June 2023. Quinn testified that he had simply asked Deasy about his knowledge of the cuisine and denied any discriminatory intent, describing the remarks as a compliment. The adjudicating officer found no evidence that Deasy was met by a racial slur during his employment, citing Deasy's vague recollections and the manager's denial. The tribunal therefore dismissed the complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The decision noted that Deasy had been dismissed for performance issues and had not appealed the dismissal. The case was closed with no further action.
A 43‑year‑old former GAA coach was resentenced by the Court of Appeal to 14 years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after the original nine‑year term was deemed too lenient. The judge cited the "global seriousness" of the offender's repeated sexual offences, physical abuse and a three‑year harassment campaign. The case involved the coach's sexual assault of a boy who was 12 when the abuse began, including oral rape, attempted anal rape, false imprisonment and assault. The coach had also abused the victim physically, beat him, and continued to harass him after the abuse stopped in 2006, sending threatening messages. The new sentence is to run concurrently with the earlier 10.5‑year term imposed by the Central Criminal Court, with the suspended portion conditional on probation. The judge described the conduct as "unusual, shocking and extremely disturbing.". The unnamed boy pleaded guilty.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, has been granted legal aid to appeal his conviction for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy. The Court of Appeal approved legal aid for all 20 applications presented that morning, and Puska will receive the same representation he had at the Central Criminal Court: a solicitor, senior counsel and two junior counsel. His trial concluded with a unanimous jury verdict after he was found to have stabbed Ms Murphy eleven times in the neck and slashed her once with a blade, leaving her to die in the thorns beside the canal towpath. Puska's defence argued that his confession to the Gardaí, made two days after the stabbing while he was under the influence of oxycodone and recovering from abdominal surgery, was involuntary, and objected to the prosecution's use of CCTV footage showing him stalking two women in Tullamore town centre before heading to the canal. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty. Ashling Murphy pleaded not guilty.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, adjudicator David James Murphy ruled that a complaint by nurse Vanessa Rodrigues-Linhan against Carechoice Swords 2 Ltd was well founded, ordering the employer to pay €30,000 in compensation. The adjudicator found the employer failed to establish adequate risk management for two patients. Regarding Patient A, the adjudicator noted the employer failed to prove efforts were in place to manage the risk he presented prior to incidents where he allegedly racially abused the complainant and pushed a decoration into her chest. Although action was taken after reports, the adjudicator found no prior process to manage his aggressive behavior. Regarding Patient B, a dementia patient, the adjudicator found that despite known issues with sexual behavior, there was no process to ensure information cascaded to night-shift carers. The adjudicator determined the complainant was subjected to serious racial and sexual harassment, making her legitimately fear for her safety. He criticized the employer for relying on senior staff support after the fact rather than having immediate supervisors on hand to react to risks. The adjudicator noted the director and assistant director of nursing appeared professional but failed in their immediate supervisory duties. The employer's defense was rejected, resulting in the compensation award.
Activist Gemma O'Doherty appeared before the High Court on Wednesday regarding an application for alleged contempt of court. The matter was adjourned to later this week to allow O'Doherty to obtain legal instructions and review relevant documents. She was released from Garda custody following the hearing. The application stems from an injunction granted to Edel Campbell, which restrains O'Doherty from harassing Campbell or publishing confidential information about her and her late son, Diego Gilsenan. Campbell alleges O'Doherty breached these orders through video posts and statements. O'Doherty, appearing without legal representation, rejected the allegations, stating she never harassed Campbell and that any attempt to jail her would be outrageous. She claimed the injunction was unlawful and that Campbell's actions violated champerty laws. Counsel for Campbell, David Kennedy SC, stated his client sought only compliance with the injunction and that O'Doherty's refusal left them no option but to bring the contempt motion. The court did not reach a final determination on the merits, as the hearing was suspended to facilitate proper legal representation.
Sharanjeet Kaur, a chef from India, claimed she was subjected to daily sexual harassment and discrimination at Bombay Bhappa Ltd in Skerries, Dublin. She said the director forced her to withdraw cash from an ATM after receiving her wages, paid her as little as €200 a week, and threatened blackmail and deportation. Kaur alleged that colleagues falsely accused her of improper relations, attempted to blackmail her, and made unwanted sexual advances. She reported being forced to work 50 hours a week for €4.46 an hour, with minimal breaks and a five‑minute lunch. After refusing to comply with the cash‑withdrawal demand, she was dismissed in November 2022. The Workplace Relations Commission found the employer breached the Employment Equality Act, Unfair Dismissals Act, and other labour laws, awarding Kaur €143,268 in compensation and damages. The case was heard in 2024.
Paula Doyle describes the lasting physical, mental and emotional damage she suffered after a violent assault on 6 September 2019. She recounts living with extreme fear, anxiety and paranoia for four and a half years, feeling that her future no longer mattered. Doyle says the perpetrator, Aidan Kestell, sent harassing texts, photos, videos and stalked her for three and a half years before the rape, and that he drove around her cul‑de‑sac after the attack. She calls for more than vigils, urging action, education and better legislation to protect women. Doyle thanks the Gardaí, the DPP, the legal team, the Rape Crisis Centre, her family and the jury for their support. She declares that the ordeal is over and she is now a survivor ready to rebuild her life. The article focuses on her experience and her plea for change, not on any legal outcome.
A 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to a fully suspended 16‑month prison term after pleading guilty to one count of harassment for sending a 12‑year‑old niece a video in which he wore only white underpants that revealed the outline of his penis. The video was discovered by the girl's foster mother, who had been checking the child's phone. In the video the man also asked the girl if they were still "besties" and claimed he was showing her "my new jocks". He handed over his phone to Gardaí, admitted the wrongdoing, expressed regret and said he would never harm a child. The foster mother's victim impact statement described the girl's feelings of betrayal and anxiety. The judge noted the defendant's mental health issues and lack of prior convictions, and imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the State argued that the nine‑year jail term imposed on a 43‑year‑old former GAA coach was too lenient for the extensive sexual and physical abuse he inflicted on a boy from age 13 to 15. The coach had pleaded guilty to attempted rape, seven counts of anal rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault causing harm and one of harassment, with offences occurring between 2004 and 2010 at his home, a sports ground and a Dublin hotel. The original sentencing court had given 10½ years, with the final 18 months suspended. The State highlighted the victim's "continuum" of abuse, grooming, physical violence and later phone harassment, claiming the nine‑year sentence did not reflect the destruction of the boy's life. The defense maintained that the judge had applied a 2½‑year reduction for a significant guilty plea and that the suspended period was necessary for reintegration.
In a Dublin District Court hearing, an enforcement order was issued against a massage parlour that had been found to have subjected a worker to egregious sexual harassment. The court awarded the worker a record whistleblower penalisation of €91,000, the maximum under the Workplace Relations Commission's jurisdiction, along with additional sums for unfair dismissal and other workplace rights breaches, bringing the total to €102,550. The massage parlour's owner, who was not present, had failed to pay the award by the 56‑day deadline and remains in operation. The court also ordered the payment of legal costs and court fees, and granted anonymity for the parties involved. The case highlighted the worker's claims that managers pressured her to provide sexual services, denied her pay, and retaliated against her refusal, leading to her dismissal and unpaid wages.
Lukasz Bykowski, 42, of no fixed abode in Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of harassing a woman on dates in March 2018 while she was working in Trinity College Dublin. The court heard that Bykowski first met the victim in 2014 when she worked in a pharmacy in Navan, where he allegedly became obsessed with her. In 2018, he allegedly sent her unmarked chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day and later visited her office multiple times, claiming to be her boyfriend and demanding her schedule. Colleagues called security due to his reluctance to leave, and the victim identified him via CCTV. Bykowski was arrested days later. Prosecution counsel stated that Bykowski told gardaí the victim had flirted with him, though she never replied to his social media messages. A victim impact statement noted the harassment had a chilling effect on her confidence and family. Judge Pauline Codd noted the harassment followed previous workplace intrusions and was deeply upsetting. Taking mitigating factors into account, the judge handed down a two-year sentence, which was suspended on conditions, including that Bykowski follow all medical instructions regarding his mental health. Additionally, the court issued an injunction ordering Bykowski to have no contact with the victim for a period of 25 years.
The Workplace Relations Commission adjourned the hearing on the statutory complaints lodged by whistleblower Lois West until 16 April. The case, which involves allegations that West, a former deputy head of the Garda Siochána Analysis Service, was demoted and that the force mishandled her complaints of bullying and sexual harassment, is being heard by adjudicator Roger McGrath. West's legal team, led by David Byrnes BL, has requested that the tribunal allow her to respond to new documents, citing her fragile state of mind and inability to give evidence remotely or in person. The tribunal has heard that West's complaints were initially investigated under the Garda protected disclosures policy but were later moved to a dignity at work process after the senior official involved resigned. The hearing will resume on 16 April. The complaints are under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
A 53‑year‑old man, Eoghan Peavoy, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment against a barrister between February 2019 and August 2022. He sent a series of increasingly threatening, vulgar and sexually suggestive text messages, emails, voicemails and WhatsApp messages, including threats of violence and claims of fantasies about killing the victim and her children. He also contacted the victim's father, colleagues and other family members. The victim described living in fear, having to print photos of the man for her childminder and removing her work website to protect herself. Peavoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act multiple times. At sentencing, a judge imposed a five‑year prison term suspended on strict conditions, directing him to take prescribed medication, remain in inpatient care if discharged, and have no contact with the victim or her family for five years and thereafter.
The Workplace Relations Commission continued its hearing into claims by Garda whistleblower Lois West, who was absent after her legal team said she was unwell due to the stress of the proceedings. West, a former deputy head of the Garda Siochana Analysis Service, has complained under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against the Garda Commissioner, the government and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. She alleges her career has been stymied since she testified to the Oireachtas about errors in Garda homicide data six years ago and that the force mishandled her complaint about bullying and sexual harassment by a senior official. The tribunal sat until 8 pm to accommodate evidence from Garda chief information officer Andrew O'Sullivan and HR director Edmund O'Reilly. The hearing is continuing late into the evening for the second time this week.
A senior Garda analyst, Lois West, is testifying before the Workplace Relations Commission about alleged sexual harassment and bullying by a senior official at Garda Headquarters. West claims the official told her he was not Garda‑vetted and produced his own vetting material, and that he threatened national security and her safety. She says the force mishandled her complaints, leaving her on extended sick leave without income. West alleges the official made a vulgar comment about a "blonde with big tits" that she interprets as a direct reference to herself. The hearing is part of a protected disclosures case under the 2014 Act, and the press is barred from naming the accused. West has spent over 12 hours giving evidence and the hearing continues.
Lois West, a former deputy head of Garda Analytics, says she was sexually harassed and bullied by a senior officer at Garda Headquarters who claimed he had shot dead 27 people. West describes the officer as volatile and emotionally unstable, noting he would sit between her and her office door, speak for hours, and orchestrate one‑on‑one situations. She alleges he told stories of previous partners meeting "sticky ends" and left a bottle of alcohol and chocolates on her desk after an outburst. West says she complained to an assistant commissioner, who responded with a letter that she felt ignored her concerns and prioritized the officer. She claims the officer was later removed from the force. West is on long‑term sick leave and has filed complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act and Payment of Wages Act.
Lois West, a civilian analyst in the Garda Siochána Analytics Service, claims she faced intense pressure and harassment to approve a one‑sided report from a review group that she said was a "flagrant attempt" to undermine the methodology that had flagged misclassification of homicide data. She says her line manager was physically confronted by a senior officer who told him to intervene, and that she was pressured to sign off on recommendations in May 2017. West has lodged statutory complaints against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and the government under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and a claim under the Payment of Wages Act. She alleges ongoing sexual harassment and continuing penalisation since she and colleague Laura Galligan began challenging homicide statistics in 2017. The case is currently before the Workplace Relations Commission, where evidence on her sexual harassment complaint will be heard.
Mark Wells, a former Shopify employee, was made redundant on 26 July 2023 after he raised a grievance alleging misandrist abuse from a customer and discrimination by female team leads. Wells had filed several statutory complaints against Shopify International Ltd, but only pursued a victimisation claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998 when his case was called in June 2024. The tribunal heard that a customer had used foul language, made wild accusations of domestic abuse, and sent racist, sexist and harassing emails to the firm. Wells' internal grievance, rejected in May 2021, was upheld on appeal later that summer. He claimed he was blamed for the abuse and treated differently because he was male. After a second grievance in June 2022, disciplinary proceedings were launched but stopped on 18 July 2023. Wells' second grievance was rejected on 25 July 2023, and he was notified of redundancy the following day.
Kevin Murphy, 28, of Bray, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of harassment and one count of making a threat to kill between July 2021 and July 2022. He sent 200 abusive, violent and distressing messages to a family, including graphic sexual texts, threats to kill, and insults. The victim was a 16‑year‑old girl who had been his surfing student; her mother also received harassing messages. Murphy's communications included threats to "clip their car" and to kill the boyfriend of a family member. He was initially detained in February 2022, later arrested again, and admitted to some of the messages. Garda Rachel Corcoran and counsel noted that his behaviour occurred during an episode of psychosis and that he had voluntarily committed himself to hospital for four weeks in March 2022. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full, and imposed a 15‑year no‑contact order with the injured parties.
Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost an appeal against a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison for throwing a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removed ordinary privileges for 40 days, was upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline Murray under the 2007 Prison Rules Act, even though the incident occurred while he was in court custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed all but one of Murray's arguments, finding that the Governor's action was within jurisdiction. The Court also allowed an appeal concerning the High Court's refusal to recommend payment to legal representatives under the Legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. Murray, aged 51, had previously been sentenced to 16 years for threats and harassment, and had earlier convictions for rape and sexual assault.
A High Court judge has ruled that Gemma O'Doherty must appear before the court to answer alleged contempt of an existing injunction. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was satisfied that Ms O'Doherty had breached an order restraining her from harassing Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, County Cavan, whose son died by suicide. The injunction, granted in June, followed Ms Campbell's claim that Ms O'Doherty unlawfully published an image of her late son in connection with Covid-19 vaccination claims. The judge found that Ms O'Doherty had made statements in video posts across multiple months in apparent disregard of the order and noted she was absent from Wednesday's hearing. Mr Justice Sanfey stated that journalism cannot excuse such conduct and that intimidation of the plaintiff had demonstrably continued after the injunction was granted. Ms O'Doherty denies all allegations against her. She is required to appear before the High Court on Friday morning.
Former 2FM presenter Chris Greene has agreed to withdraw all claims of whistleblower penalisation and unfair dismissal against RTÉ after a compromise was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission. The settlement, announced at the WRC hearing, means Greene will no longer pursue claims under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 or the Payment of Wages Act 1991. The dispute centred on Greene's allegations of sexual harassment and workplace impropriety, which he said were protected disclosures that led to his marginalisation and dismissal. RTÉ contested Greene's status as an employee and argued he had no entitlement to employment‑rights claims. The WRC hearing, which had been delayed for over two hours, concluded with the parties agreeing to a written compromise and Greene withdrawing his complaints, including the protected disclosure element. The case had been scheduled for two days of hearing before adjudicator Breiffni O'Neill.
Lucy Ewins, a Kenyan‑born resident of Ireland for over 30 years, has brought an injunction application against Promontoria Scariff Designated Activity Company and receiver Mr David O'Connor, alleging unlawful conduct in the sale of her four‑bedroom home in Knocknacarra, Galway. She claims the defendants' agents changed the locks, attempted to market the property for auction, and that a representative once stayed overnight in the sitting room, constituting trespass and a breach of her privacy rights. Ewins also alleges intimidation and harassment over several years. She seeks to restrain the defendants from selling or trespassing on the property. The High Court granted her permission to file the injunction, and the case was adjourned for two weeks to allow the defendants to reply. The defendants deny all allegations in the "strongest possible terms" and have offered undertakings not to sell or attend the property until the matter returns to court.
Erika Gould, 38, with 208 prior convictions, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for common assault on her mother and harassment of her sister. On 12 May last year, while her mother was driving, Gould threw scrambled egg at her mother's face and punched her left eye. Within 24 hours she sent abusive texts to her sister and later entered the sister's apartment after 1 a.m., threatening and throwing a rock at a window, actions captured on the sister's Ring camera. Gould pleaded guilty to the assault and harassment. She has a serious alcohol problem and a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. She is currently serving a six‑month sentence for violence in a Garda station. The court ordered that she have no contact with her sister for ten years. Judge Martin Nolan noted her extensive offending history and the need to protect society.