The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Sankalpa CLG settled a dismissal claim with an unnamed male employee, who withdrew statutory complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and Employment Equality Act 1998 pending implementation of agreed terms. The settlement followed evidence that the charity supported the "outlandish claims" of a female colleague, identified as Ms A, while shelving the male worker's complaints of a "campaign of lies and false accusations." A witness described Ms A as a "Walter Mitty" who allegedly targeted the complainant with harassment since May 2020, including unfounded allegations of serious sexual misconduct. Although the charity's solicitor requested time to review a 42-minute recording of a board meeting, the matter was resolved on the day. The complainant signed papers instructing the WRC to close his case within weeks, contingent on payment and implementation of the settlement. This follows a separate earlier decision where adjudicating officer Kevin Baneham found that former director Edel Ambrose was subjected to whistleblower retaliation, resulting in an €83,000 award. The charity is currently appealing that award to the Circuit Court. The WRC granted anonymity to the charity's directors and staff in these proceedings.
A mother has taken her autistic son to the High Court after a primary school refused to enrol him in its autism unit. She says the school told her there were places, she applied and sent all required paperwork, but weeks later the school claimed it had no record of the application and that all places were filled. The school then put the boy on a waiting list. The mother appealed to a Section 29 Appeals Committee, arguing the school had not properly reviewed its decision. The committee rejected the appeal, citing a failure to provide information and that the boy's application had never been considered because it was "mislaid". The mother appealed that decision to the Minister for Education, who set aside the committee's refusal and directed it to consider the appeal. The mother was later told the appeal was moot because waiting lists are only valid for one year and a new enrolment process had begun.
Mary Charles, of Dinree House, Piercetown, Dunboyne, Co Meath, has been granted permission by the High Court to bring a judicial review action against An Bord Pleanála and the Attorney General. The applicant challenges the board's March decision to grant retention planning permission to respondent Leslie Fitzpatrick for upgrading the lighting system at the Wynmere equestrian facility in Dunboyne. Ms Charles alleges that the proposed eight-meter LED lighting columns will adversely affect a family member with photosensitive epilepsy, whose home is located 100 meters from the arena. She claims the board's decision is invalid because it failed to consider the potential health impacts of light pollution, did not carry out an adequate survey of bat fauna, and erroneously concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment screening was not required. The applicant further alleges that the board made material errors of law and fact and failed to provide proper reasons for its decision. Ms Charles seeks orders quashing the board's decision to grant planning permission. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted the application for permission on an ex-parte basis. Mr Fitzpatrick was made a notice party to the proceedings, and the matter was adjourned to a date in October for further hearing.
A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden, 27, pleaded guilty to disclosing confidential information from the Garda Pulse database in exchange for cocaine. Hayden admitted to providing details of a named individual on 29 October 2019, and to sending Pulse data to a person she knew on 9 September 2019 and again between 28 April and 11 May 2020. She also sent images of Covid‑19 checkpoint locations via WhatsApp and Telegram, receiving cocaine in return. Hayden's addiction to alcohol and drugs was highlighted by her admissions and her mother's testimony. She expressed remorse and acknowledged her actions as a gross disloyalty to her employer. The court considered a urine analysis before proceeding with sentencing, with a potential adjournment to 6 November to facilitate the test.
David Thomas, 33, has sued his mother Breda Thomas in the High Court, claiming she unlawfully occupies an 85‑acre farm and dwelling at Ballyduff, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, which he says was willed to him by his late grandmother Barbara Thomas in 1993. Thomas alleges that the property was transferred to him in 2010 by trustees, but his mother withheld the full meaning of the transfer and continued to manage the farm, benefiting from its profits. He says his mother has physically attacked him, threatened to burn the property, and excluded him from his bedroom and household facilities. Thomas claims he has no other accommodation and has been staying with an aunt. He seeks possession of the house and farm, registration of his legal interest, damages for trespass and unjust enrichment, and an injunction restraining his mother from trespassing or harassing him.
An education support worker with Addison's disease, a rare hormonal disorder that can cause life‑threatening attacks, was awarded €33,500 after the Workplace Relations Commission found her employer discriminated against her under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The worker had learned in spring 2020 that her office in Blessington, Co. Wicklow would close and was offered relocation to Carlow, Naas, Kildare or Tallaght. She rejected Carlow because it lacked a hospital and requested the option to hot‑desk from Naas, but no accommodation was offered. She resigned and entered early retirement. The employer's counsel denied discrimination, claiming reasonable steps were taken, but the tribunal noted the employer knew of her serious medical conditions and failed to assess a suitable workplace. The compensation equated to six months' salary for the worker.
In a High Court hearing on 6 July 2023, Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted an attachment order to the Cabhrú Housing Association, a charitable organisation that owns a Dublin property at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7. The order requires Gardaí to arrest and bring before the court all persons who are refusing to vacate the building, which has been illegally occupied since mid‑May. Cabhrú claims the occupants are members of a group called the Revolutionary Housing League and that the occupation is in contempt of a prior court order to leave. The charity has attempted to identify the occupants and serve them copies of the vacate order in six languages, but has been unable to do so because the occupants wear masks and have barricaded themselves inside.
Orla Howe, a solicitor, claimed she was dismissed after notifying her employer of her pregnancy and heightened anxiety about working in the office during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the dismissal was discriminatory under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The tribunal noted that the firm, HCA Law, had not reduced its headcount when Ms Howe was terminated and had instead recruited new staff, indicating the dismissal was not a genuine redundancy. The commission also rejected the claim that the firm breached the European Pregnant Workers' Directive, as Ms Howe had not been compelled to work in the office and could work from home. Ms Howe was awarded €30,000 in compensation for the discriminatory dismissal. The decision was made by adjudicating officer Marie Flynn.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded Garda Jacinta Kenny €50,000 after finding that the Gardaí had discriminated against her on the basis of disability. Kenny, who has migraine status, swallowing difficulties, borderline personality disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, had applied for a sergeant's post in 2017 and was placed on the sergeant panel in 2019. A senior officer told her that promotions would be to frontline roles she could not perform and that her promotion was "held up because of medical grounds". The officer also alleged that Kenny had said she would self‑harm in a way that posed a danger to the public, an allegation Kenny denied. The WRC found the allegation unsubstantiated, concluded that the Gardaí had prevented her promotion, and ordered the force to treat her equally and provide her personnel file. The ruling was received by the parties' legal representatives but has not yet been published by the WRC.
In a High Court case on 5 July 2023, the Duddy Group—Duddy Hospitality Ireland Holdings Limited, Brendan Duddy and Lawrence Duddy—sued the Propiteer Group, comprising Propiteer Ireland Holdings Limited, DADAC Ltd, Propiteer Ltd, Colin Sandy and David Marshall, over a dispute about the division of assets from joint ventures they had owned, including the IBIS Red Cow Hotel in Dublin. The parties had been partners in several ventures, and after disagreements in 2019 they agreed in 2020 to split the assets. The Duddy Group alleges that the Propiteer Group breached those settlement agreements by securing borrowings for the IBIS companies, appointing receivers over the hotel and related assets, and attempting to replace directors on the hotel's boards. The Duddy Group also sued the receivers, Ken Fennell and Andrew O'Leary of Interpath Ireland, seeking orders to stop them acting as receivers and to prevent any board changes.
Lawyers for Qatari royals and Maybourne Hotels argue that Irish courts lack jurisdiction to hear defamation claims brought by Irish businessman Ronnie Delany. Delany alleges letters published in Ireland defamed him and were part of a conspiracy. He seeks damages, declarations of defamation and conspiracy, and an injunction. Defendants, represented by Marcus Dowling SC and Stephen Byrne BL, file pre‑trial motions to strike the actions, claiming the claims should be heard in the UK or France. Delany, represented by Paul McGarry SC, counters, asserting the letters were sent to Irish recipients, including associate Paddy McKillen, and thus the case is proper in Ireland. The motions are before Mr Justice Conor Dignam, with the hearing expected to last several days. The case involves letters dated 13 April 2021 and claims of unlawful damage to reputation.
Dumitru Sehleanu, a van driver, won €15,000 in compensation from Cordelia Foods Ltd following a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. The adjudicator found that the company committed longstanding breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, specifically regarding excessive hours and lack of breaks. Mr. Sehleanu alleged he worked 12 to 13-hour days, driving 600km to 900km routes, and was forced to urinate in a bottle due to the inability to take rest periods. The adjudicator accepted this evidence, awarding €7,500 for rest period violations and a further €7,500 for exceeding weekly maximum hours between May and August 2020. However, Mr. Sehleanu's claims for constructive dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act, penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, and a National Minimum Wage Act complaint were all rejected. The adjudicator ruled that while the working time breaches were significant, they did not constitute a repudiatory breach of contract because Mr. Sehleanu resigned without first raising the issues with his employer. The minimum wage claim failed due to procedural non-compliance. The total award was €15,000. Mr. Sehleanu has since secured new employment as a firefighter in Bray.
Megan Kenna, a pregnant tenant in Howth, claims her landlord Brendan O'Brien terminated her lease because she was pregnant, alleging discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. Kenna says the landlord's stress over her pregnancy forced her to have a caesarean section, citing a consultant obstetrician's statement. O'Brien accepted the medical opinion but disputes that his actions caused the stress. Kenna's case was heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, where recordings of a meeting on 9 April 2022 were played. In the meeting, O'Brien told Kenna he could not allow a child in the apartment, citing a supposedly unsafe spiral staircase, and offered alternative accommodation that Kenna deemed unsuitable. Kenna and her husband left the property after receiving notice of termination. The adjudicator will decide in months.
During the Stardust inquest, doorman John Furley, then 23, said he was told by senior staff that exit doors should remain locked, but he had not received any direct instruction. He described youths attempting to force open exit 5, which was partially blocked by a skip of empty bottles; after the skip was moved the door opened fully. Only 20‑30 people escaped through that door, while many others tried to exit through other dark, unlit exits. Furley noted that exit 1 and 6 were always chained and pad‑locked and that he had never opened them. He also recalled a prior incident where a door had been nailed shut while the disco was still running. The inquest heard that the Stardust had operated for three years before the February 13 fire, and that Furley had helped evacuate the Lantern Rooms after the blaze was noticed. The hearing continues tomorrow.
Ms Justice Eileen Roberts extended Mareva orders freezing the assets of Volga-Dnepr Logistics BV, finding a strong case that the Russian-owned logistics firm is attempting to move assets out of Europe to frustrate a US$406m judgement registered by BOC Aviation Limited. The High Court judge clarified the powers of receiver Declan Taite over the defendant's 68.7% shareholding in its Irish subsidiary, Volga-Dnepr (Ireland), which holds estimated US$236m in assets, including three Antonov cargo aircraft in Germany. BOC, represented by Bernard Dunleavy SC and Ross Aylward BL, secured these unopposed interim orders to prevent asset dissipation following a New York Court award against the defendant and its subsidiary for alleged breaches of leasing agreements. The judge noted that while the defendant may challenge Irish jurisdiction, no instructions have been given to bring such a motion. She declined to order specific disclosures from Irish subsidiary directors, deferring that decision until a receiver's report is received when the case returns later this month. The Volga-Dnepr group, with assets of approximately US$3.5bn, is alleged to be headed by Alexey Isaykin, a sanctioned Russian businessman. BOC claims post-invasion restructuring, including a US$126m dividend to a Luxembourg entity, was designed to place assets beyond reach. The matter remains pending the full hearing of BOC's claim.
In a case brought before the Workplace Relations Commission, Elamir Elamdkhoum, a migrant fisherman, secured an order against R&E Fish Ltd for failing to pay the minimum wage under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. The tribunal found that Elamdkhoum, who worked on a 24‑foot prawn boat from December 2019, was entitled to the national minimum hourly rate for 39 hours each week, even when the vessel was tied up. The employer had not provided a proper employment contract or a written statement of terms, and had failed to supply records of Elamdkhoum's working hours. The adjudicating officer, Conor Stokes, accepted the trade union's calculation and ordered R&E Fish to pay €11,540.78 in pay arrears, €408 for a holiday entitlement breach, and an additional week's pay for the lack of a written statement, bringing the total to €12,500.78.
David 'Dave' Macardle, a long‑time presenter of the 'Dave Mac's Drive' programme on Cork's RedFm, has had his High Court action against the station resolved. The court heard that the proceedings had been settled and could be struck out, though no agreement details were disclosed. The dispute arose after RedFm demanded that Macardle stop presenting the show from Dublin three days a week and instead host it from its Cork studio all five weekdays. Macardle's lawyers had earlier secured a temporary injunction allowing him to continue the dual‑location arrangement. The station, represented by Brian Conroy BL, denied wrongdoing and had intended to oppose the action. The court noted that the parties had reached undertakings permitting Macardle to present two days a week from Cork and three days a week from Dublin, and that the station would not replace him or terminate his position pending the outcome of the case.
During the 2023 inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, former barman Colm O'Toole, aged 20 at the time, recounted his attempts to extinguish a growing blaze and evacuate patrons. He described using a fire extinguisher that only seemed to spread the flames, noting the heat rose from a moderate level to a high intensity as a shutter was raised. O'Toole said he tried to direct people toward an exit in the dispense bar, but many did not hear him. He also reported that the smoke became very dense and he was unable to breathe. O'Toole had no fire training and said the club had no fire‑control plan. He claimed that after about three minutes he shifted focus from fighting the fire to helping people leave the building. The testimony was presented to the tribunal by lawyers representing the families of the deceased. The record contains no further legal conclusions or outcomes.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €133,000 to Mario Kirstner, former chief executive of Suirsafe Technologies Ltd. The award comprised €108,000 for constructive dismissal and €25,800 for unlawful wage deductions. Kirstner claimed that in April 2022 the owners, citing a "political/legal situation in China," demanded he either work without pay or leave immediately. He was demoted to chief operating officer, had control of bank accounts transferred to investor Ms Ye, and was told to work for free until the company became profitable. He resigned on 14 June 2022, after refusing to comply with the ultimatum. The tribunal found the company breached the contract by not paying him during the six‑month notice period and ruled the dismissal unfair, awarding the full six‑month lost earnings and the wage‑deduction sum. The case was heard without the respondent company present.
In a High Court settlement, a mother used Google to diagnose her six‑year‑old son, Padraic O'Callaghan, with Kawasaki disease before doctors did, leading to a claim of medical negligence against the HSE. Padraic, from Kilmeedy, Co. Limerick, was first admitted to University Hospital Limerick in November 2016 at six weeks old with cough, vomiting and fever. He was discharged twice with a diagnosis of viral respiratory infection, then readmitted when a rash appeared. After further tests, doctors suspected viral meningitis but did not diagnose Kawasaki disease until weeks later, when the mother's online research prompted a discussion. The delayed diagnosis allegedly caused life‑changing complications, including severe cardiac issues, a high risk of brain bleed, and lifelong blood‑thinning medication. The court approved an interim payment of €570,000 as part of the settlement, with no admission of liability, and the case will return in five years.
In June 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a claim of unfair dismissal brought by Dublin Bus driver Okan Karpuz. Karpuz had been dismissed in December 2019 after two incidents in which inspectors observed him using his mobile phone while driving. He argued that he was checking on his family and that a sick son was at home during the second incident. The Commission found no procedural breach that would render the dismissal unfair. Dublin Bus maintains a zero‑tolerance policy on mobile phone use while driving, and the company's HR head had previously described such breaches as gross misconduct. Karpuz's union representative criticised the company for inconsistent treatment of the two incidents, but the Commission upheld the dismissal. The decision was published on 29 June 2023.
The Parnells GAA club was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay statutory redundancy lump sums to two former clubhouse workers, Michelle O'Carroll and Graham Coventry, who had been laid off in March 2020 and remained unemployed for two years. The club had claimed financial difficulties when it closed during the Covid‑19 pandemic and had not reopened by August 2020. O'Carroll and Coventry sought redundancy on the basis of their long layoff, citing the club's failure to provide a reopening date and the lack of funds. The WRC awarded redundancy payments calculated on five years of service for Coventry and ten years for O'Carroll. Separate complaints about holiday entitlements and pay were dismissed because the forms were submitted after the statutory deadline. No club representative attended the hearings, and the adjudicators ruled that the club was on notice and would be pursued for payment if it failed to comply.
Monday Augustine, aged 52, admitted to using false documents to secure asylum and later Irish citizenship. He first arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be Liberian and using the name John Augustine Sawyeer. He married an Irish citizen in 2004, obtained citizenship in 2008, and received a passport in 2009, all under the false name. In 2019 he applied for a new passport using the same falsified birth certificate. After a religious experience in 2018, Augustine wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019, confessing the fraud and revealing his true identity. He was arrested, showed full cooperation, and pleaded guilty. He has no prior convictions, works for a cleaning company, and is described as a respected, pro‑social individual. The case is pending finalisation on 18 July.
The High Court ordered the removal of a mortgage charge held by Promontoria Oyster DAC over the home of Marie Gibson at Castletymon Green, Coolock, Dublin 5. Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that Pauline Gibson, Marie's daughter, must pay €75,000 in exemplary damages for engaging in an unscrupulous fraud involving the 2003 transfer of the property. The court found that Pauline Gibson forged signatures to defraud her parents and Dublin City Council. Additionally, solicitor Kevin O'Gorman was ordered to pay €5,000 in compensatory damages and €30,000 in aggravated damages for gross negligence, including failing to provide written advice and destroying original documents. The judge stated he is considering referring findings regarding Pauline Gibson to the Director of Public Prosecutions and findings against O'Gorman to the Law Society and Revenue Commissioners. However, the judge indicated he would consider further submissions before making a final decision on those referrals when the matter returns before the court in two weeks time. The court declared the 2003 transfer and the subsequent mortgage charge void, noting that the receiver was not validly appointed. Promontoria Oyster DAC opposed the removal of the charge, arguing undue influence, but the judge rejected this argument. Pauline Gibson did not participate in the proceedings.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld a complaint of ageist discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000 against Avantcard DAC, trading as Avant Money, in a decision published this morning. Adjudicating officer Úna Glazier-Farmer ruled that Michael Lane was treated less favourably on the grounds of his age when the lender refused to allow him to apply for a mortgage switching service because he was over 70. The tribunal rejected Avant Money's motion for an anonymous decision and its argument that the complainant failed to use the official ES1 form, noting that an ordinary letter suffices. The adjudicator found that Lane was denied the opportunity to prove his repayment capacity, which the lender's policy allowed as an exception. Consequently, Avant Money was ordered to pay €8,420 in compensation, representing half the interest Lane would have saved. Additionally, the firm was directed to carry out equality training in its complaints department within six months and to write to its brokers to clarify its age policy. David Caslin, the firm's interim head of compliance, testified that the company did not comply with the complaint process as the official form was not used, though the adjudicator rejected this defence. The hearing concluded with these final orders and findings.
In a June 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €2,000 to Sophia Brennan after she was denied entry to KOA Asian Restaurant in Malahide with her guide dog Tim. Brennan, who had a letter from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and a guide‑dog card, described the staff's refusal as humiliating and said the dog was called "not hygienic" and could be left "out back." The proprietor had claimed staff allergies and that children might be scared of dogs, but Brennan said none of this was communicated to her that evening. The tribunal found the restaurant had discriminated against her under the Equal Status Act, ordered the proprietor to pay compensation, and required the management to become acquainted with equality legislation. The hearing was conducted without the restaurant's presence, and the decision was made by adjudicating officer Penelope McGrath.
Cabhrú Housing Association, which provides housing for older people, will renew a High Court application to obtain orders for the attachment and committal of those unlawfully occupying its property at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7. The charity says the building was taken over last month by unknown persons it believes belong to the Revolutionary Housing League, an organisation that has previously occupied other Dublin properties. Cabhrú had earlier secured a High Court order directing the occupants to vacate, but the judge refused to order Gardaí to arrest the occupants due to insufficient evidence of their identities and a lack of proof that all occupants had been notified of the vacate order. The charity has since attempted to identify the occupants, distributing the court order in six languages and monitoring entries and exits.
In 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission heard that 5,000 people applied to rent rooms in a single house‑share in north County Dublin when it was listed last year. An estate agent, Stephen McKinnney of 1st Class Lettings and Property Management Ltd, was told to pay €1,800 compensation to Karen Duffy after he withdrew an offer to let her a studio flat in Swords because she was receiving the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). McKinnney said he was looking for "professional men" and that HAP tenants were not always unemployed, claiming the landlord could not sign the necessary forms. Duffy said she had repeatedly stated she was a HAP claimant in all her applications and that she had been denied viewings. The adjudicator, Penelope McGrath, found McKinnney had discriminated against Duffy on the basis of HAP, awarded her €1,800 and upheld her complaint. The case remains at the WRC hearing stage.
The High Court has granted orders preventing Gemma O'Doherty from harassing Edel Campbell, the mother of Diego Gilsenan, a teenager who died by suicide. The orders were issued by Mr Justice Conor Dignam following a hearing on Friday evening. Edel Campbell alleges that Ms O'Doherty has engaged in a campaign of harassment, including the unauthorized use of images of her late son in an article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccination. The court has ordered Ms O'Doherty to refrain from harassing Ms Campbell, publishing images of her or her late son, or sharing personal and confidential information about them. She is also prohibited from encouraging others to intimidate the plaintiff. The court has required Ms O'Doherty to remove any images of Ms Campbell or her son from her media. These orders will remain in place pending the final outcome of the ongoing legal action. Ms O'Doherty was not present in court, and no representations were made on her behalf. In emails to the plaintiff's lawyers, Ms O'Doherty denied the allegations and stated she was on holiday and had received insufficient notice of the hearing. The case, which involves complex legal issues including freedom of speech, will return to court at a later date. The action was launched by Ms Campbell, represented by David Kennedy SC and Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL, with Ciaran Mulholland as the solicitor.
In a High Court decision on 21 June 2023, Justice Siobhan Stack appointed chartered accountants Jim Luby and Enda Lowry of McStay Luby as joint liquidators for GWD Forestry Ltd, an Irish‑registered forestry investment company accused of defrauding investors of around €30 million. The ruling followed applications from two creditor groups: one led by Franco Bertellino, who sought provisional liquidator Declan de Lacey of PKF O'Connor Leddy Holmes, and another represented by Sally O'Neill BL, who opposed Bertellino's nominee and requested Luby and Lowry. The court noted that the opposing creditors had earlier moved to restore the company to the register and had attempted a creditors' meeting to wind it up, but the High Court action halted that effort. Both sides acknowledged the company's involvement in fraud, and the court found the petitioning creditors' case insufficient to appoint their nominee. The appointment of Luby and Lowry aims to investigate the company's affairs and recover investors' funds.
Go‑Ahead Ireland was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to re‑hire depot supervisor Robert Newton after he was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct following a dispute with control‑room staff over a lost driver. Newton claimed he did not use the word "dickhead" as alleged, but admitted he lost his composure after being provoked on 18 August 2022. He said he was publicly criticised and shouted at by the control‑room manager and two other staff, who he said added to the belittling. The company's legal representative argued the dismissal was a reasonable sanction, while Newton's union representative highlighted procedural flaws and a lack of consistency. The tribunal found the dismissal unfair, noted Newton's contribution to the incident, and ordered Go‑Ahead to re‑engage him as a depot supervisor, treating the nine months of dismissal as unpaid suspension.
The Cabhrú Housing Association, which owns a building at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7, claims it has been illegally occupied by a group calling itself the "Revolutionary Housing League" (RHL). The charity says the occupants, who entered the property last month, are not homeless refugees but members of RHL, and that they have barricaded themselves inside. Cabhrú has sought to repossess the building, which it plans to demolish and replace with a 35‑unit complex for older people. A High Court judge refused to order Gardai to arrest the occupants, citing a lack of evidence about their identities and that the injunction to vacate had not been complied with. The judge allowed Cabhrú to renew its application for attachment and committal of the occupants at a later date. Cabhrú has secured the premises, cut utilities, and engaged a security company, but the occupants have tampered with the electrical supply and fire alarm system.
Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, brought proceedings before the High Court alleging that she has experienced intensified online harassment and intimidation following her legal action against Gemma O'Doherty. Ms Campbell claims that Ms O'Doherty, described as a journalist and publisher of The Irish Light newspaper and associated website, has defamed her and directed abuse at her legal representatives. The dispute centres on Ms O'Doherty's alleged use of images of Ms Campbell's late son, Diego Gilsenan, who died in August 2021, in articles Ms Campbell contends contained false claims. Ms Campbell sought injunctions restraining Ms O'Doherty from publishing material about her or her son, and from harassment. Justice Brian O'Moore granted permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the proceedings. Ms Campbell has also filed a complaint with An Garda Síochána. The matter was adjourned for return to the High Court later that month.
In a June 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Hilary Ellis's claim that she was discriminated against for refusing a Covid‑19 vaccine on religious grounds when applying to Araglen House Nursing Home in Cork. Ellis, a Christian Scientist, argued that her faith allowed her to refuse medical treatment. The nursing home's HR manager, Chris Woods, informed her that vaccination was a mandatory condition for all employees and that she would not be employed if unvaccinated. The commission's adjudicating officer, Thomas O'Driscoll, found that Ellis's position was not a protected religious belief under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and that the nursing home's vaccine requirement was a valid condition of employment to protect residents. Consequently, the complaint was rejected, with the commission concluding no discrimination had occurred. The decision was published on 20 June 2023.
The High Court appointed Mr Joseph Walsh as interim examiner for Metron Stores Limited, operator of 26 Iceland retail stores in Ireland, after the company was found insolvent with €36m of debts due. The court heard that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had ordered the withdrawal of all imported frozen animal‑origin foods, citing alleged breaches of food legislation. Metron has complied with the notice, identified 239 potentially non‑compliant products out of 3,000, and secured new Irish suppliers and veterinary certification. The company faces over 25 legal actions, significant losses, and employment disputes, but has taken steps to resolve these issues. An independent experts report suggests the company could survive if a scheme of arrangement is agreed with creditors and fresh investment is secured through examinership. The matter will return to court in two weeks.
During the Stardust fire, floor manager Phelim Kinahan reported that manager Eamon Butterly allegedly said, "The bastards started a fire." Kinahan described the blaze's progression: black smoke filled the hall, patrons were choking, and he guided people to exits. He noted a chain on an exit door was left unlocked and he moved it to give the impression both doors were locked. Kinahan also recalled turning off heaters after smelling rubber burning, a smell he had reported to Butterly, who then ordered a new motor for the heater. The inquest heard Kinahan's statements about the fire's onset, his evacuation efforts, and his interactions with Butterly, but no further details on the cause or legal outcomes were provided.
In a High Court application, John and Mary Lyons, who run 'The Hungry Lyons' fast‑food restaurant on Limerick's Ennis Road, allege that Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh is attempting to destroy their business. The couple claim that the premises, owned by Supermacs Ireland Ltd, is leased to them under a 20‑year agreement secured in 2018 that includes a non‑compete clause preventing the landlord from assigning or sub‑letting the adjoining Funworld property to any fast‑food operator. They contend that Supermac's and Mr McDonagh have breached this clause by installing cooking and storage facilities at Funworld and selling fast food from there, including advertising children's birthday parties with Supermac's food. The Lyons seek injunctions to stop the defendants from selling fast food and from letting the property to other fast‑food operators, pending the full hearing. The defendants deny any breach of the lease or planning regulations.
In a High Court hearing on 19 June 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore heard that "behind‑the‑scenes talks" were underway between the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) and the Garda Commissioner to resolve a dispute over new rostering arrangements. The AGSI, representing 2,500 members, has initiated proceedings because it believes the Commissioner's proposals, which would replace the 2012 Working Time Agreement (WTA) that had been in place since the 2010 Public Sector Agreement, would adversely affect members' health, safety and family lives. The AGSI seeks an injunction preventing the Commissioner from unilaterally imposing a new roster, orders to stop extending the pandemic‑era contingency roster, and a requirement that all internal Garda dispute‑resolution procedures be exhausted before involving the Workplace Relations Commission. The Commissioner, represented by Mark Connaughton SC, wants the case heard promptly and has opposed the application.
The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for a 52-year-old man from County Roscommon, enabling him to retain his family home while writing off more than €1.1 million in debt. Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted the order following an appeal by a Personal Insolvency Practitioner after the Circuit Court had refused to approve the arrangement. The debtor incurred significant financial difficulties through personal guarantees linked to a construction business he operated with family members, which entered liquidation in 2008. Under the approved arrangement, unsecured debts owed to the Bank of Ireland and building suppliers will be written off in exchange for modest dividend payments. The mortgaged family home will be restructured, with over €110,000 of the outstanding balance written off and the remainder repaid over twenty years. The court heard that creditors would benefit more substantially under the arrangement than through bankruptcy proceedings. A separate arrangement was also approved for the debtor's wife.
During the Stardust fire, 17‑year‑old waitress Pauline McConalogue was collecting glasses near the front of the stage when she saw the ceiling begin to burn and collapse. She had no fire drill experience and did not know the location of fire exits. McConalogue described the scene as a "mass of flames" with smoke that was "terrible." She was unable to see where to go and felt panic among patrons, although the DJ urged them not to panic. She was pulled out of the club, lying on the ground outside the door, and was not injured but her clothing was burned and she was overwhelmed by fumes. She had no knowledge of any match being used to ignite the seats and had not heard anyone mention such a cause. The inquest continues to examine the events of that night.
In a High Court case, Marie Gibson, an elderly widow, seeks removal of a mortgage charge held by Promontoria Oyster DAC over her home at Castletymon Green, Coolock, Dublin 5. Gibson was defrauded by her daughter Pauline Gibson, who forged signatures to transfer the property to herself in 2003 and secured a €190,000 loan from First Active. The transfer was later set aside by Justice Brian Cregan as fraudulent. Gibson also sued solicitor Kevin O'Gorman for professional negligence and the receiver Paul McCleary. Promontoria, claiming €350,000 owed, opposes the removal of the charge and has offered Gibson options to stay or surrender the property. Gibson rejected all offers. The court has been asked to remove the charge and receiver, and to consider nominal damages against Pauline Gibson and O'Gorman. Justice Cregan has reserved judgment, noting the case's complexity.
In a Dublin case, Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy declined to issue arrest orders for the unknown occupants who have barricaded themselves in a Cabhru Housing Association property at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7. The judge had earlier granted an injunction preventing the occupants, believed to be seeking international protection, from trespassing on the building, which Cabhru intends to convert into housing for the elderly. The injunction was not being complied with, but the judge said he could not order arrest or committal without evidence of the occupants' identities and proper service of the proceedings. Cabhru has requested that the court consider attachment and committal of those in contempt at a later date. The matter will return to court next week. Cabhru has secured the property, disconnected utilities, and engaged a security company, but the occupants remain inside, delaying the charity's redevelopment plans.
Kevin Kletzander, a former Trinity College student, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault committed in Dublin between 5 and 28 August 2021. The offences occurred at Grafton Street, Stephen's Green, Aston Quay, Usher's Island, the Ilac Shopping Centre and Store Street Garda Station. In each incident he forced contact with a woman's crotch or buttocks, sometimes using force or a fist, and once slapped a female Garda. He was arrested at the Ilac Centre and has been in custody since August 2021. Kletzander has no prior convictions and admitted the acts were inappropriate, citing mental health problems that had led to hospitalisations. The court heard psychiatric and probation reports and adjourned the case to 23 June for finalisation. The case was presided over by Judge Orla Crowe.
Lorcan Doody, 18, told the inquest that the Stardust's outside door was locked when he tried to leave at about 1 a.m. He said a bouncer at the door had no key and they had to wait until a second man returned with a key, a delay of roughly three minutes. Doody described a brief power cut around midnight that lasted about ten seconds, during which the DJ commented on Friday the 13th. He and friends left at 1 a.m., noting shutters were down and the bouncer had only partially lifted them, requiring them to duck. Doody also mentioned seeing a young man, aged 18‑23, looking in a window as they left; Gardaí later identified him as a homeless person the kitchen staff had fed. Paul James Shortall, 20, recounted leaving at 1:40 a.m., seeing emergency exit doors burst open and a black‑smoke cloud, and later witnessing flames from the roof.
The Irish School of Motoring Recruitment (ISM Recruitment) has told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that Roadstone, a construction firm, must pay more than €55,000 to resolve pay‑equity claims by agency lorry drivers. ISM says it was unaware of a 2022 pay rise given to Roadstone's direct employees until drivers it placed lodged statutory complaints. The drivers – Wojciech Krajewski, Jan Brocki and George Evans – allege that direct employees worked an hour less per week, received training costs, a €350‑per‑year mobile phone allowance, bonus pay and bereavement pay that the agency drivers were denied. They also claim direct employees received 3.25 % pay rises in 2021 and 2022, which the agency drivers say were withheld in breach of their rights. ISM has been ordered to pay €13,000 for three statutory claims and has sought to recover the €55,458.61 from Roadstone.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for Thomas Fahy, a 58‑year‑old self‑employed electrical contractor from Cortoon, Claregalway. Under the arrangement, Fahy's unsecured debts of about €2.5 million will be written off in exchange for a payment of €2,300 to creditors. He will keep his family home, with the mortgage restructured and partially written down by €230,000 over time. The scheme will be funded by a €7,900 lump‑sum payment, of which €5,600 covers the Personal Insolvency Practitioner's fees and the remainder goes to unsecured creditors. The arrangement is 24 months long, with monthly payments of approximately €1,094.29 to Pepper Finance and interest‑only payments of €190 for the first year. No objections were raised, and the court found the proposal met insolvency criteria.
In a High Court hearing on 9 June 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted BOC Aviation Limited a temporary freezing order, preventing the Dutch‑registered Volga‑Dnepr Logistics BV from reducing or moving assets below US$406 million. The order, an ex‑parte Mareva order, also appointed a receiver over the defendant's 68.7 % shareholding in its Irish subsidiary, Volga‑Dnepr (Ireland). The receiver, Declan Taite, was authorised to protect assets estimated at US$236 million, including three Antonov cargo aircraft in Leipzig, engines and bank accounts in Dublin, London and Frankfurt. BOC, represented by Bernard Dunleavy SC and Ross Aylward BL, sought the orders to secure assets after a New York court awarded BOC US$406 million in damages last April. The judge declined to order disclosure of the defendant's income or liabilities, noting it was impractical at this stage.
The High Court has set a date for the State's bid to halt a constitutional challenge brought by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. The applicant alleges an unlawful and unconstitutional 'secret arrangement' exists between Ireland and Great Britain, permitting the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. Senator Craughwell claims this purported agreement, allegedly introduced following the 2001 attacks, was never approved by the Dáil or the Irish people via referendum, rendering it fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution. The Government and the State, which do not confirm or deny the existence of the alleged agreement, have filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. Before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, the judge fixed two days in early October for a hearing on a preliminary issue raised by the State. The respondents argue the claims are not justiciable, submitting that courts cannot review matters of external security falling within executive power, as disclosure could endanger State security and international relations. Should the State succeed in this pre-trial application, Senator Craughwell's case will fall. His legal team is opposing the motion. The senator seeks declarations that the alleged agreement breaches the Constitution and that the Government's failure to control airspace violates Article 5. He also seeks an order restraining the government from legislating to give effect to the agreement without a referendum. The matter is currently at the hearing or decision stage regarding this preliminary application.
A Mattress Mick franchisee, Somnus GSM Limited, was ordered to pay former manager Shane Hearne €10,000 after a complaint under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Hearne claimed he was owed €25,442 in wages and commission for work from September 2020 to April 2021, but received only €10,615.84, leaving a shortfall of €14,826.16. He alleged a verbal agreement for €550 a week net and 2% commission on all merchandise sales, but no documentation existed. The payroll manager denied the 2% commission, stating managers received 1% of their own sales and 1% of store sales, and cited issues with Revenue registration that led to a directors' loan instead of payment. The adjudicating officer noted the lack of documentary evidence and concluded it was reasonable for the respondent to pay €10,000 in compensation.
The High Court heard that the joint liquidators of GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, two Russian state‑owned leasing firms, seek orders recognising that they, not any Russian entities, have effective control over the companies during the €4.11 billion liquidation. The liquidators, Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland, were appointed after the firms' examinership application was dismissed. The liquidation, the largest in Irish history, was triggered by sanctions imposed on Russian entities following the Ukraine invasion. The liquidators must obtain permission from the Central Bank of Ireland to carry out transactions involving the firms, and have requested a hearing to secure orders and declarations of control. The court noted that the firms' computer server crashed after the liquidators were appointed, complicating access to books and records. The judge set a timetable for document exchange and adjourned the matter for two weeks, hoping to fix a hearing date.