Leona Erangey, a secretary who worked for David Gaffney of Gaffney Solicitors for about two and a half years, won orders from the Workplace Relations Commission for unpaid wages and statutory redundancy after Gaffney's firm became insolvent. Erangey had been told in April 2024 that her role would transfer to another solicitor's firm, but the transfer never occurred. She claimed she was owed a statutory redundancy lump sum and back wages for the first month of her employment. The WRC found that Gaffney had not disputed the redundancy claim and confirmed his insolvency. The commission ordered €2,500 in arrears for the month in hand, €729.05 for five days' wages in her final week, and €1,458.10 for accrued annual leave, totaling €4,687. Erangey is also entitled to a statutory redundancy payment, which will be calculated based on her service from October 2021 to May 2024 and her social insurance record.
John Mooney, a 71‑year‑old former maintenance worker at Dublin's Hairy Lemon pub, won €30,000 after a court found his dismissal in 2024 was age‑discriminatory. Mooney had been rehired in 2014 following a 20‑year barman career and was told in November 2023 that he would be dismissed at Christmas because the pub's insurance had risen due to his age. He was also warned of a mandatory retirement age of 66, despite having worked beyond that. Mooney attempted to contact the pub owner, Peter Hanahoe, who directed him to Niall Duff. In January 2024, Hanahoe handed Mooney a dismissal letter in an envelope. Witness Niall Duff testified that the company feared physical risks associated with Mooney's role, claiming the position was redundant. The adjudicator, Breiffni O'Neill, found the employer failed to provide evidence that insurance costs justified the dismissal and concluded the presumption of discrimination could not be rebutted, awarding the compensation.
A preliminary hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission concerning an Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 complaint by Phillip Beattie against Protestant Aid was adjourned to a future date. Mr Beattie alleged that his redundancy in 2024 was fundamentally linked to his auditing of a nursing home and questioning the recipients of two cheques, which he claimed triggered systematic bullying. The respondent, represented by the Brabazon Trust, argued that Mr Beattie had named the incorrect respondent, as he was a contractor for Protestant Aid and an administrative support officer for the Trust, not an employee of the former. The respondent further contended that the complaint was lodged a fortnight late, depriving the Commission of jurisdiction, and that most alleged bullying incidents were statute-barred. Mr Beattie countered that the entities operated under the same umbrella and that his complaint of 21 November 2024 was within the statutory limit, citing technical website issues. Adjudicator Donal Moore stated that the central issue was whether Mr Beattie had been unfairly dismissed, dismissing arguments regarding bullying as irrelevant to the jurisdictional points. He directed the parties to focus on these preliminary matters and adjourned the case for further legal submissions.
The High Court has adjourned an application by Dublin City Council for a court-ordered inspection of a Georgian building at 55 Amiens Street, formerly the home of 1916 Rising leader Tom Clarke. The matter, heard before Mr Justice Brian Cregan, was delayed for one week to allow the twelve occupants to discuss the terms of the proposed inspection and to avoid a potential "stand-off" with council staff. Jem Cleaver, the only named defendant among the occupants, told the court that while some residents had no objection to the inspection, others were uncertain, noting that the group deals with matters by consensus. The council seeks to inspect the 1790s property for damages caused by Storm Éowyn or the occupants. Although the occupants have accepted a requirement to vacate the heritage site by May 12, they opposed the inspection, citing privacy concerns and fears of prejudice on housing lists. Counsel for the council, Gavin Mooney SC, stated that no such prejudice would occur. Mr Justice Cregan indicated he was inclined to make an order allowing an engineer and architect to visually inspect common areas, three bedrooms, the roof, and the garden. He criticized the situation where Ms Cleaver had to face the proceedings alone, stating, "There is no reason you alone should be sent out before the fire." The judge invited the other occupants to attend the next hearing to discuss the terms, emphasizing that the proposed order was reasonable.
Declan Culliton, a plant hire manager at HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, claims he was forced to approve inflated machinery hire prices as part of a price‑fixing scheme and was demoted for raising concerns. He is filing a complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. HSS denies any protected disclosure or collusion. The case involves three companies: Laois Hire Services Ltd, HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, and Briggs Equipment Ireland Ltd. Culliton alleges that Michael Killeen, former Laois Hire founder and then HSS director, instructed him to raise prices at a Costa Coffee meeting in Naas in July 2022. When Culliton questioned the instruction, he was told it came from Killeen. He claims the price increases proceeded, inflating cross‑hire costs. Culliton subsequently raised protected disclosures in management meetings and to HSS's UK HR director, after which he was isolated, threatened with demotion, and removed from a senior role.
The Football Association of Ireland has reached a principle agreement with its press officer Cathal Dervan regarding a workplace rights claim. The case was scheduled to open at the Workplace Relations Commission but was adjourned. Dervan's solicitor, John Connellan, requested a four‑week postponement, noting that five weeks might be needed. Adjudication officer Brian Dalton granted the adjournment and offered six weeks to facilitate implementation. The hearing at Lansdowne House did not disclose the complaint's particulars or the statutes invoked. Dervan has served as the FAI's director of communications and public relations since 2019.
A tribunal upheld the dismissal of Gerard Carey, a senior Dublin Airport executive, after he was sacked for gross misconduct following his arrest over allegations of theft from terminal shops. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Carey's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Carey, who had worked at the airport since 1998, was arrested on 29 June 2023 for alleged theft but was not convicted in ordinary courts. The airport argued that airside staff must maintain the highest trust and confidence, and that Carey's role as a senior executive in a highly regulated safety position made dismissal necessary. Carey's appeal, heard by Ms M, was dismissed as a rubber‑stamping of the disciplinary decision. The tribunal found that natural justice had been observed and that the complaint failed, also dismissing a secondary claim for statutory notice pay.
Mark Langham, a former senior executive earning €160,000 a year at Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, has filed a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 claiming he was made redundant as head of operations in Ireland in June 2023. Langham alleges the redundancy was due to a "personality clash" with Sonia Kajani, the daughter of the parent firm's founder. The WRC was told that the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport, one of JMK's four Irish hotels, had been contracted to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, a contract worth €20‑23 million a year.
Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, based in Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the fatal June 2019 accident at St Oliver Plunkett National School, Malahide, where worker John Joe McAfee was crushed by a falling steel structure. The company admitted failure to protect employees from risk and to coordinate safe‑working procedures. The court noted that McAfee's steel frames were unstable and unanchored, and a site engineer had left early despite a contract to supervise. Ganson subcontracted the work, and the chain of subcontractors ultimately placed McAfee on a mobile platform that collapsed. The judge, considering guilty pleas and cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority, fined Ganson €250,000, payable within six months, and expressed deep sympathy for McAfee's family, who suffered ongoing grief and financial hardship after his death.
Thomas Greaney, a Galway City Council road sweeper driver, won €25,000 in compensation for disability discrimination after the council failed to make adequate workplace adjustments following his stress and anxiety caused by bullying. The bullying began when a supervisor transferred Greaney to the city's north‑west side in January 2021 and subsequently lodged a series of complaints accusing him of not performing tasks. Greaney reported the harassment and filed a formal grievance on 22 March 2021. An internal investigation in June 2021 upheld two of nine complaints, but the council delayed an independent investigation until April 2022, after the supervisor had returned to work. Greaney's case highlighted ongoing stress, GP visits, and prescribed anxiety medication. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Jim Dolan, found the council's handling "far too long" and ordered the €25,000 compensation for breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998.
John O'Brien, aged 31, challenged a decision that denied him access to a State Claims Agency compensation scheme for the "slopping‑out" regime he endured while imprisoned in Cork between March 2013 and April 2014. He alleged that he was forced to urinate and defecate into a bucket in his cell, sometimes in front of other inmates, and then "slop out" the contents in the morning when the cell door opened. O'Brien claimed this practice breached Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and was unconstitutional under Irish law. He applied for compensation in November 2020 and formally in March 2021, but the respondents rejected his application in May 2021 as statute‑barred. In his judicial‑review application, Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins rejected the claim, stating that O'Brien had not shown that the limitation period was contrary to his rights or that his exclusion was oppressive or unfair.
An adjudicator ordered the Little Sisters of the Poor to pay Geraldine Baxter €70,560 after she was dismissed in 2023. The dismissal followed a series of allegations, including a false claim that she had falsified annual leave records and that she had worked from home without proper documentation. Baxter, who had worked for the order since 2006, argued that her work‑from‑home arrangements were an established practice and that she had always kept accurate records. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the allegations were based on the fading memory of a nun and that witness statements supporting Baxter's account were inexplicably disregarded. The adjudicator described the case as "extraordinary" and "one of the most egregious examples" of employee mistreatment. He awarded Baxter the maximum compensation under the Unfair Dismissals Act, 104 weeks' pay (€65,520) plus eight weeks' notice pay (€5,040), totaling €70,560. The order was issued in February 2025.
Emma Keane, a Simon Community manager, claimed that her employer, Midlands Simon Communities CLG, breached the Organisation of Working Time Act 2005 by allowing her to work beyond the legal maximum weekly hours and by failing to pay accrued annual leave. Keane had agreed in October 2020 to a 48‑hour week, which she argued was not temporary and continued until her resignation in July 2023. She described how her role required her to travel to centres for out‑of‑hours emergencies, often multiple times a week, which she said pushed her beyond the statutory limit. The employer defended the arrangement as unavoidable due to funding and service demand. The Workplace Relations Commission found the employer in breach, awarding Keane €2,500 for the excessive hours and €2,039.99 for unpaid annual leave, plus €500 compensation, totaling €5,000.
A judge has warned that the governor of the Midlands Prison will be summoned to the Central Criminal Court to explain why a psychiatrist hired by defence lawyers was denied access to a prisoner awaiting a murder trial on two separate occasions. The prisoner, who is in custody, is seeking a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he qualifies for a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, which allows a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has repeatedly highlighted that the lack of psychiatric services in Ireland forces lawyers to seek experts abroad, causing significant trial delays and increasing trauma for victims' families. The defence team, represented by Morgan Shelley BL, secured a UK psychiatrist who was scheduled to meet the prisoner twice, only to have the meetings cancelled by the prison without explanation.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator ruled that a multimedia journalist, earning €84,630 a year plus a chief subeditor allowance, was already well compensated and could not be promoted to newscaster or assistant editor. The journalist had claimed entitlement to higher pay and additional compensation for a project he had worked on since 2010, citing verbal promises from the broadcaster's director of news in 2009. The broadcaster denied any promises and argued the project was a team effort, noting that pensionable allowances had increased the journalist's pension pot by about €100,000. The adjudicator described the journalist as having an extraordinary sense of entitlement and concluded that the €100,000 pension benefit made him more than adequately compensated for the project. The decision rejected all aspects of the industrial dispute under the Industrial Relations Act 1969. The case was heard privately, with the broadcaster represented by Barry Walsh of Fieldfisher LLP and the journalist by Frank Drumm BL.
Brian Meagher, a former prison officer, claims his dismissal was excessive after he went AWOL to fight in Ukraine. He arranged an informal shift‑swap with a colleague, leaving €1,800 to cover five shifts, and hoped to return unnoticed. In September 2022, while severely wounded in Ukraine, he gave a TV interview from his hospital bed, which was discovered by a senior official. The Prison Service referred the case to the Prison Service director‑general and then to the Secretary‑General of the Department of Justice, who dismissed him in February 2023. Meagher argues he was paid for several months despite rumours of his absence and that the swap system, though unsanctioned, was a known practice. He now seeks reinstatement before the Workplace Relations Commission, stating he was proud of his volunteer work but acknowledges it was a bad decision.
A 66-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, has been ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Northern Ireland to face murder charges. James Donegan is wanted in connection with the death of Joseph James Porter, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member, at Mountnorris, County Armagh, between June 22 and 25, 1979. Mr Porter's body was discovered near his farm entrance on June 24, 1979, with a post-mortem examination revealing fatal gunshot wounds. Mr Donegan is also charged with firearms offences and membership of a proscribed organisation. He was arrested at Dublin Airport in June 2024. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath rejected arguments from Mr Donegan's legal team regarding abuse of process and the fairness of trial proceedings following the significant passage of time. The judge found no evidence suggesting he would not receive fair treatment in the prosecuting jurisdiction. The court adjourned proceedings to February 7 pending surrender.
Tesco Ireland Ltd was ordered to pay €40,000 to Karen Rice after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the supermarket had dismissed her in October 2023 without providing reasonable accommodation for her vision impairment. Rice, who had suffered an aneurysm that severely affected her sight, had been on long‑term sick leave since June 2020 and had not been examined by a company doctor for two and a half years. The company ignored a 2021 recommendation that she see a consultant ophthalmologist and instead relied on a June 2023 occupational health report from an unqualified employee that claimed no adjustments could be made. The tribunal described the report as "utterly bizarre and disingenuous" and ruled that Tesco's failure to seek further medical opinion or to provide accommodation constituted disability discrimination and a discriminatory dismissal. The award was made at the maximum jurisdiction of the WRC.
Dan O'Connor, a Kerry coroner and solicitor, has obtained High Court permission to pursue a judicial review against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the December 13, 2024 decision to amalgamate the four Kerry coronial districts—North, West, South, and East—was unlawful and that the appointment of Aisling Quilter as coroner for all four districts was invalid. O'Connor was appointed deputy coroner for West Kerry in November 2020 and for North Kerry in November 2024. He claims that the Minister, after confirming his appointment as coroner for North and West Kerry, informed him on December 16, 2024, that the South and East Kerry coroner would become sole coroner for all districts, citing a "vacancy" that he says was fabricated. He seeks a High Court order quashing the amalgamation decision, the appointment of Quilter, and a declaration that he is the legitimate coroner for North and West Kerry.
Retired labour inspector George McLoughlin is seeking a High Court review of a decision by the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner not to investigate his complaints of alleged serious wrongdoing at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Mr McLoughlin, who worked for the National Employment Rights Authority from 2008 to 2017, claims he submitted three protected disclosures between 2015 and 2017 alleging that senior officials colluded to prevent investigations and penalised him. He named the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) and Minister Frances Fitzgerald as notice parties. Sipo closed his complaints in March 2023, stating the subject matter lacked sufficient gravity. Subsequently, the Commissioner's office closed a fourth disclosure in July 2024, citing a lack of prima facie evidence. Mr McLoughlin is seeking to quash this decision and order the report to be transmitted to an independent person for follow-up. At the High Court this week, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty adjourned the matter to March 25. She directed Mr McLoughlin to serve all materials in his possession to the three parties involved. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Iulia Andreea Zamfir, a croupier at D1 Club casino, brought a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 alleging sustained misogyny, sexual harassment, verbal abuse and discrimination. She reported that a poker player threatened to run her over with his car on 6 August 2023, and that her manager responded with a dismissive email saying, "you have a really nice ass, but this is off the record." Zamfir said she had been told to "remember that I don't work in a church" whenever she raised concerns. The Workplace Relations Commission found the casino had failed to investigate the alleged harassment thoroughly and had treated Zamfir's complaints as unprofessional. The tribunal ordered the casino to pay her €7,000 in compensation, to provide sexual‑harassment training, to implement a dignity‑at‑work protocol and to engage a third‑party investigator for future complaints. The case was heard in January 2025.
Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL) was fined €15,000 by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for health and safety breaches following the death of able seaman Dennis Gomez Regana in November 2018. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that individuals at the place of work were not exposed to risks, specifically citing fragmented verbal and radio communications between vessel personnel, quayside workers, and crane operators. Safety inspector Frank Kerins testified that while the breach did not directly cause Mr. Regana's death, it contributed to the incident where a 20-foot steel container fell on him while he attempted to rectify a missing twist lock. The court heard that MTL had a good safety record and had appointed staff to improve communications. Judge Nolan noted the communication breakdown but considered the guilty plea and the company's cooperation. The fine of €15,000 was imposed with six months allowed for payment. The matter was concluded with this sentencing decision.
In July 2024 the Workplace Relations Commission rejected Nora Rahill's claims that she had been discriminated against by the Grangegorman Development Agency. Rahill, a higher executive officer since 2008, argued that she had been paid less than male colleagues and that her duties had been transferred to a new director role created in July 2023. She sought back pay of nearly €300,000, equal pay going forward, the return of duties and a re‑grading to assistant principal level. The WRC found that her job had not been formally re‑graded and that the new director role was not equivalent to her responsibilities. An external investigator had concluded her work was not of equal or greater value than the finance director's. The adjudicator dismissed both discrimination complaints, noting Rahill had not participated in a job evaluation and had ignored a female comparator in her claims. The case remains pending for a separate internal grievance.
A liquidator, Myles Kirby of Kirby Chartered Accountants, was appointed by Mr Justice Oisín Quinn to wind up Chequer Catering Ltd, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant, after the High Court confirmed a €1.8 million deficit. Kirby had previously served as provisional liquidator. The court noted the restaurant lacked a fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence for over two years. Revenue's Dermot Cahill SC highlighted the company's debt of €751,266.01, covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019 onward. An interim examiner had been appointed by the Circuit Court on 13 December, but the company withdrew its protection application. Executive officer Philip Byrne's affidavit stressed Revenue's concern over the company's inability to pay its debts, deeming a full liquidation just and equitable.
James Ajibola, a migrant security guard, lodged a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging that BGS Security Ltd withheld wages for about 230 hours of work in Dublin from July to September 2024. He claimed the company paid only those with long tenure and that workers with limited English were not paid. Ajibola said he was told to "beg" for wages and that a manager cited a "mistake" with his Revenue record. He reported receiving payslips for July, August and September but no actual payment. The company did not attend the hearing; the adjudicator proceeded after confirming notice. Ajibola's evidence included a message from a director apologising for payroll delays. The adjudicator promised a decision within a few weeks, noting enforcement mechanisms exist if the company refuses to comply.
Thomasina Egan, a former employee of Red Zinc Ltd, has filed a statutory complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 alleging that tech entrepreneur Donal Morris, the company's founder, fired her in a "fit of temper" after she emailed the auditor about unpaid wages. Egan claims Morris called her "apoplectic" on 29 November 2023, told her "you're fired," and removed her access to company systems. Morris denies firing her, stating he never said that and that the letter was a final warning, not a dismissal. He also says he could not recall the 29 November call and that any conversation in early December was calm and not acrimonious. The Workplace Relations Commission will decide who bears the burden of proof before hearing the case in full, and an adjudicator has requested further evidence to clarify the sequence of events.
In a tribunal hearing on 22 January 2025, Aran Burrows, a former Weltec Engineering subcontractor, alleged that his February 2024 contract non‑renewal was whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Burrows claimed a voice note he recorded, containing remarks about "cocaine use, smoking joints, b**ches and h*es" and unsafe work at height, was used by the company as a "cover‑up" to justify the non‑renewal. Weltec's safety manager, Dave Kerrigan, and health and safety manager, James Hackett, testified that the voice note was deemed a protected disclosure because it contained "some satire" but also raised legitimate safety concerns. They argued the note revealed breaches of Intel's safety policy, such as working at height without a clipped‑off system. The tribunal heard that the report had not been read by company staff and that the decision to not renew Burrows' contract was made jointly by senior managers following the voice note's discovery.
At the Workplace Relations Commission, Wayne Murphy, 47, alleged that the ESB had blacklisted him after a labour dispute nearly twenty years ago, claiming age discrimination in a recent job application. Murphy said a line manager had recommended him for a position, but he was not accepted. He questioned HR about the ages of successful candidates, which were not disclosed. He claimed the ESB had falsified ages, citing a whistleblower who said one candidate was 27, while the ESB's records listed ages 34‑40. Murphy also referenced Facebook posts he said were meant for family, which the ESB's legal team had raised. The ESB's solicitor denied any blacklist and said no prior complaint was known. The adjudicator, Penelope McGrath, closed the hearing with a decision to be emailed.
A Palestinian man in his 40s, who fled war and has been sleeping rough for ten months, has been granted a judicial review hearing by the High Court. He seeks placement in international protection accommodation and a vulnerability assessment, claiming PTSD and worsening mental health due to homelessness amid rising criminality and anti‑immigrant sentiment in Dublin. The applicant, represented by barrister Keivon Sotoodeh of Patrick J Sweeney Solicitors, argues that the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration and Youth and the state have failed to fulfil EU‑mandated duties under the EU Regulations and Reception Conditions Directive. He requests an order compelling the Minister to provide material reception conditions, including accommodation and a timely vulnerability assessment, and a declaration that the Minister's alleged failure is unlawful and breaches his rights to dignity, humane treatment and family life. The High Court adjourned the case to the following day.
A married Ukrainian couple, living under temporary protection in an Irish hotel since April 2022, have applied for a High Court judicial review after the Department of Social Protection denied them additional social welfare payments. Their disability allowance (€208 per week for the wife) and carer's allowance (€224 per week for the husband) were withdrawn on 9 September 2024 when the State reclassified their accommodation as "designated" because they were in a State hotel. The couple claims the withdrawal was unjustified as there was no material change in their circumstances, and that the Department failed to consider their severe medical conditions – the wife's neurological condition and wheelchair use, and the husband's high blood pressure, diabetes and weight issues – in breach of Section 201 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing in June, Wix Online Platforms Ltd conceded it breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by dismissing Courtney Carey. The adjudicator determined that Ms Carey was fired over social media posts regarding the conflict in Palestine. The WRC subsequently convened a hearing to determine compensation for this unfair dismissal. During the proceedings, Ms Carey was questioned by the company's lawyers about her job search following what her solicitor described as a "very public sacking." She testified that she lost her flat, relied on social welfare, and accepted a lower-paid position as an An Post clerk. Ms Carey stated she felt blacklisted from the tech sector, noting that multiple tweets and LinkedIn posts characterized her as supporting terrorism, which caused potential employers to withdraw offers. The validated procedural stage for this specific matter is a hearing or decision regarding compensation, following the company's admission of the breach.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2024, the court appointed Myles Kirby as provisional liquidator for Chequer Catering Limited, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant. The company was declared insolvent, with a €1.8 million deficit and a debt of €751,266.01 to Revenue covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019. Chequer had no fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence since September 2022, yet its creditors include wine suppliers. The court, hearing an ex‑parte application from Revenue, ordered the appointment of the provisional liquidator and adjourned the case to 27 January to allow a petition for winding up to be filed. The company's directors are Frank Gleeson of Churchtown and Ciara Fox of Celbridge. The provisional liquidator will oversee the company's affairs pending a formal winding‑up application.
A mother of five has told the High Court that a council property in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has caused her to fear for her children's safety due to reported paranormal activity. Louise Stokes, along with her husband Thomas, had initially sought to challenge Leitrim County Council's housing decisions regarding their previous residence at Mount Temple, where they alleged severe mould problems posed health risks to their family. The council subsequently offered alternative accommodation, which the family accepted in October. However, Ms Stokes informed Mr Justice Garrett Simons that since moving to the new property, objects have moved unexpectedly and doors have shifted on their own. She stated she contacted the council about her concerns but felt dismissed. Mr Justice Simons struck out the Stokes' claim, finding it related only to the original property. He acknowledged her concerns regarding the second house but indicated that any further housing application would require a separate submission to the local authority.
In a landmark insolvency claim, the State was ordered to pay €2.84 million into the pension fund of former Protim Abrasives Ltd employees. The claim, brought by Kieran Wallace of Interpath Advisory, challenged the State's refusal to contribute a larger sum to the scheme in 2022. The tribunal found that the relevant contribution at the time of the company's 2009 liquidation was €3.7 million, not the €6.1 million later sought. After accounting for €876,000 recovered in liquidation, the adjudicator ruled the Minister for Enterprise must pay €2.84 million. The decision highlighted that capital contributions to a defined‑benefit pension can be treated as relevant contributions under the 1984 Act, and that the State could not justify the larger figure as a "coach and four" through the legislation. The ruling affirms the State's liability to fund the pension deficit.
An adjudicator of the Workplace Relations Commission is set to decide whether a school's ear‑piercing policy may constitute indirect discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. The complaint, brought by a boy's solicitor, argues that the school's rule—allowing only one small stud per ear—imposes a gendered identity on the student, citing local customs that associate two earrings with girls and a single left‑ear stud with heterosexuality. The 16‑year‑old, who has a silver stud in his left ear, claims the rule is not neutral and that he was subjected to sanctions such as being denied lunch breaks and assigned to evening detention. The school denies the allegations, stating it has enforced its uniform code consistently and that the rule merely limits the number of studs per ear. The hearing concluded with the adjudicator postponing a decision until the New Year, while the press was instructed not to name the school to protect the student's identity.
Cllr Paul Hogan, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, and Cllr John Dolan welcomed a High Court adjournment in their challenge to a plan to house approximately 1,000 male asylum seekers in tented accommodation in Athlone. The applicants alleged that the ministerial process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures, claiming deficiencies in environmental screening, wastewater assessment, and traffic impact analysis. At the hearing, counsel for Cllr Hogan stated that the State had conceded the case, resulting in the development being classified as unauthorised. However, the applicants maintained that substantive environmental and planning issues remained unaddressed. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys adjourned the matter to January 27 to allow for further detailed consideration of these wider grounds. The State confirmed that works on the Lissywollen site would cease on December 20, though the site would remain in operation pending a final court determination. The councillors, including Mayor Frankie Keena, stated that the adjournment provides an opportunity to have their broader concerns heard in full by the High Court.
Lawyers for Garda analyst Lois West, who was deputy head of the Garda Siochána Analytics Service, have asked the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudicator, Roger McGrath, to step aside. West claims she has suffered ongoing penalisation, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment since testifying to the Oireachtas in 2018 about errors in homicide data. She is pursuing complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against the Commissioner of An Garda Siochána, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Government. At a hearing, the adjudicator declined to allow a retired senior manager to be summoned as a witness and refused an order for disclosure of correspondence involving West's treating psychologist. West's barrister, David Byrnes, said the client does not accept these decisions and seeks a motion for recusal, arguing an unfair hearing.
Adjudicator David James Murphy of the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed an unfair dismissal claim brought by Gabor Hoff against Lidl Ireland Gmbh. Hoff, a deputy logistics manager at the Charleville distribution centre, was dismissed on 16 December 2022. Lidl alleged that on 20 October 2022, Hoff remarked to two female workers that the warehouse work was too physical for women and that he did not hire females for such roles. Hoff disputed the accuracy of these statements, claiming they were taken out of context and that he did not intend offence. However, Lidl presented evidence that Hoff was already on a final written warning for previous suggestive comments and had recently completed dignity at work training. The adjudicator found it reasonable to infer that the female complainant was offended, noting her formal complaint and visible distress. Considering Hoff's prior disciplinary history and the unacceptable nature of the alleged comments, the adjudicator concluded that dismissal was a reasonable response available to the employer. Consequently, the claim was found not well founded, and Hoff lost his challenge to the sacking.
A Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, led by solicitor Noel Smyth, has been granted leave to seek a judicial review of traffic restrictions imposed by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority. The alliance, which includes owners of city‑centre car parks and members of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, argues that the traffic‑calming measures on Liffey quays—such as bans on private vehicles between 7 am and 7 pm—were adopted beyond the council's powers and will cost the city nearly €400 million. The traders' July 2024 report predicts a €141 million drop in retail spending by 2028 and a loss of over 6,000 jobs, amounting to an adverse monetary impact of €390 million. They seek orders quashing the July 2024 adoption of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, the council's subsequent orders on implementation and signage, and claim the council acted ultra vires and without a required environmental impact assessment.
The Government has conceded a High Court challenge brought by Cllr Paul Hogan against a plan to house approximately 1,000 male asylum seekers in Athlone. At the hearing, Oisin SC, representing Mr. Hogan, informed Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Youth conceded the case, stating the development would be classified as unauthorised. Ms Aoife Carroll SC, for the State, indicated the matter could be put in for mention on Thursday, pending instructions from the Minister. Mr. Hogan, who secured 4.8 per cent of first preference votes in the recent General Election, alleged the ministerial process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures. The challenge was supported by Athlone-based representatives, including TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, councillors Frankie Keena and Aengus O'Rourke of Fianna Fáil, and John Dolan of Fine Gael. Mr. Hogan sought to pause or quash the statutory instrument that confirmed the project did not require An Bord Pleanála approval and that specific EU environmental assessments were unnecessary. He claimed the Minister failed to adequately screen for environmental impacts, citing deficiencies in wastewater and traffic assessments, and argued the plan would cause significant traffic hazards and health and safety issues. He further alleged a lack of prior consultation with local councillors and that the development would be prejudicial to public health. Minister for Integration Roderick O'Gorman had contested the case. The matter was adjourned for mention on Thursday.
A tribunal found that Morgan O'Connell Pharmacy Ltd, co‑owned by former Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell, was not liable for disability discrimination or unfair dismissal in a case brought by pharmacist Fadia Alshareefy, a polio survivor. Alshareefy alleged that the pharmacy discriminated against her because of her disability and that she was unfairly dismissed after a Gardaí inspection in May 2022. She claimed the male director became agitated, that she received no support, that CCTV was abused, and that she was denied reasonable accommodation. The tribunal rejected all these claims, stating there was no credible evidence of discrimination and that the dismissal was purely financial. Alshareefy's unfair dismissal claim was also found statute‑barred, and her other wage‑related complaints were withdrawn. The decision was made by adjudicator Michael McEntee.
Ryanair's defamation case against a former pilot is being considered for joining with its ongoing legal action against Channel 4 over a 2013 broadcast. The High Court was informed that the airline is suing Channel 4 and Blakeway Productions Limited for a programme that raised concerns about fuel levels in Ryanair flights in 2012. Ryanair claims the broadcast made 'false and defamatory' allegations, which it says damage its reputation and safety record. The programme featured anonymous pilots expressing concerns about the airline's fuel policy. Following the broadcast, a veteran pilot with 25 years of service had his employment terminated. His legal representative argued that the pilot should be included in the existing proceedings, as he was a contributor to the programme and a former Ryanair employee. The judge indicated a willingness to join the matters and adjourned the case to be next mentioned on January 28.
Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has secured a trial date for his High Court defamation action against the BBC. Mr Adams, aged 76, alleges that the broadcaster falsely claimed he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson in Glenties, County Donegal in 2006. The allegations were made in a 2016 BBC Spotlight programme and a subsequent article on the BBC website. Mr Adams denies any involvement in Mr Donaldson's death. The BBC denies defamation, contending the programme and publication were made in good faith and constituted responsible journalism following careful investigation. Mr Justice Alexander Owens fixed the case for trial on 29 April 2025 at the Four Courts in Dublin, with proceedings expected to last up to three weeks. The action follows preliminary hearings and discovery disputes that delayed the case.
Lawyers for RTÉ argued that newsroom coordinator Joseph Kelly was out of time to bring statutory complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 2005 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. The tribunal opened the case today, with Kelly seeking compensation for leave and holiday pay he claims were denied before his employment was regularised in 2018. RTÉ's counsel, Seamus Given, said Kelly had not set out his claims in writing and that the matters concerned a period before 2018, which he argued was outside the tribunal's jurisdiction. Kelly's advocate, Martin McMahon, countered that RTÉ had a public commitment to resolve the situation and that the broadcaster's lawyers were engaging in "sharp practice" by trying to run down the clock. The adjudicator, John Harraghy, asked Kelly to submit detailed written claims by 31 January 2025 and said a further hearing would be scheduled once the submission was received.
A tribunal ruled that a "culture of horseplay" at a pharmaceutical plant was not properly considered when Thermo Fisher Scientific Cork Ltd dismissed fitter John O'Brien after he threw waste oil at an apprentice's tools in response to a prank. The tribunal found O'Brien's reaction "undoubtedly" unacceptable and held him 50% responsible for his dismissal, but noted that the disciplinary process should have examined the company's tolerance for horseplay. O'Brien, who had worked at the plant for eight years, claimed he was tired, stressed and "lost the head" after his phone was hidden by apprentice Mr X. He apologized and said he did not intend property damage. The company had previously warned him for safety violations. The tribunal awarded O'Brien €31,500, half of the €63,000 loss of earnings, after finding him 50% liable for the dismissal.
A parish priest's personal bank account was almost €50,000 emptied in a phone‑scam that involved a bogus broadband connection fee. The priest, after receiving a call from a supposed broadband company, attempted to pay a one‑off fee of €5 online. He tried to make the payment over 40 times in four days, resulting in the loss of nearly €50,000. Money mule Kelvin Kleinovas (24) later transferred €10,000 of the stolen cash into his own account. Kleinovas pleaded guilty in August 2019 to having the proceeds of crime in his account and was arrested in September 2021. He has seven prior convictions, including money laundering, for which he received a two‑year suspended sentence. None of the stolen money was recovered. The priest's victim impact statement expressed deep disappointment with the bank's failure to protect his funds and described the loss as devastating.
A third‑level student in his 20s has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge his university's decision to refer him to a fitness‑to‑practise committee after two findings of plagiarism. The student, whose name and course are undisclosed, was investigated in September 2023 after an exam where he used notes that also contained material from another student. He claimed he did not realise he was transcribing directly and apologised. The committee found the plagiarism an offence, recorded it as a second incident, and referred the matter to the junior dean who ruled the exam paper inadmissible and the mark zero, with a capped 'pass' if he re‑sat. The university later cited additional concerns, including falsified attendance and misrepresentation of fees, and referred the case to the fitness‑to‑practise committee.
A 35‑year‑old Malaysian named Kim Low Swee was arrested at Dublin Airport after customs found €380,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase. He claimed he believed the bag contained edible bird nests, a delicacy, and that he had been told to say so if stopped. Low Swee admitted he knew the contents were prohibited but thought they were harmless. He said he had been promised €4,300 for the transport and that financial pressure, job loss, and family stress motivated him. He pleaded guilty to simple possession, possession for sale and supply, and importation of cannabis. The court accepted his early pleas and mitigating circumstances, and imposed a sentence of three years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, backdated to the day he was taken into custody.
Ryan Boodhun, a bar manager at the Schoolhouse Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, has lodged a statutory complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 after being dismissed for alleged gross misconduct. The hotel's policy was to add a 10 % service charge to bills for tables of eight or more, with the charge removed if the party objected. Boodhun was suspended in June 2023 following an allegation that he had added the charge to smaller tables without customers' knowledge. The hotel's investigation concluded that he had knowingly applied the charge incorrectly, and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found the dismissal justified. Boodhun maintains the accusations are unfounded, claiming the process violated natural justice. The tribunal heard evidence from hotel staff, the owner, and an investigator, and was given a fortnight to submit further submissions on his loss of earnings. The hearing was closed by adjudicator Orla Jones.