The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear a complaint by former Kuwaiti Embassy staff member Fozia Rafiq under the Protection of Employees (Fixed‑Term Work) Act 2003. Rafiq, who worked as an administrator for Kuwaiti students in Ireland from 4 February 2020 to 3 February 2021, claimed she was treated less favourably because her contract was not renewed. The embassy sought to invoke sovereign immunity, arguing Rafiq was a consular officer and that the WRC lacked jurisdiction. The embassy's barrister cited a 1992 Supreme Court decision on a Canadian ambassador's chauffeur, while Rafiq's solicitor argued that she was a low‑paid, routine administrative employee with no managerial discretion. The WRC's adjudicating officer, Máire Mulcahy, noted that the case law cited by Kuwait had been overtaken by the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities and that Ireland was bound by customary international law.
Ms. Edel Ambrose, former services director at Dublin drug‑treatment centre Sankalpa, received €83,000 in compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the centre's former chairman behaved aggressively and intimidatorily to humiliate her for reporting governance concerns to HSE officials and a TD in 2020. The tribunal upheld her complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, awarding €23,000 for unfair dismissal and €60,000 for penalisation. A third complaint of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was dismissed. The decision noted that Ambrose was suspended in May 2020 following unfounded claims by a supervisor, and that she was later threatened with disciplinary action when she sought to address concerns about a colleague's return to work.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Clare county coroner Isobel O'Dea to pay over €8,000 in compensation to former legal secretary Mary McInerney for unfair dismissal, in addition to a statutory redundancy lump sum. McInerney had worked for O'Dea since 2008, receiving a day rate of €120 for seven hours, and was placed on layoff in April 2020 during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed she was not asked to return to work and that she had only been offered a redundancy package in October 2021, which she accepted because she felt she had no other option. O'Dea denied that McInerney had requested redundancy, stating she had facilitated it. The tribunal found that O'Dea made no effort to consult McInerney about her role, presented redundancy as a fait accompli, and that McInerney was unfairly dismissed under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Britvic has been ordered to reinstate Anthony O'Brien, a shop steward with 24 years of service, following a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that found 'no evidence whatsoever' he threw a punch during an altercation outside the firm's west Dublin plant on 12 May 2021. The WRC adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, found procedural unfairness in Britvic's investigation, noting that the precise allegations were not put to O'Brien and that additional allegations were made during the disciplinary process. O'Neill stated that the sacking was both procedurally and substantively unfair, emphasizing that no training had been provided to staff on the firm's dignity at work policy. The matter was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, with the order becoming effective on 15 May 2023. Fergus Dwyer of Ibec, representing Britvic, argued that O'Brien's actions had destroyed the company's trust and confidence, while Dave Curran of Siptu, representing O'Brien, contended that the CCTV footage showed O'Brien was moving away and that he was the victim of an assault. The Trade Union also participated in the proceedings. The case was not adjourned and was concluded at the hearing_or_decision stage.
The founder of a Dublin restaurant group, Padraic Hanley, had his car seized outside the Labour Court by the new management while he was inside pursuing an appeal against his dismissal, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A barrister representing one of Hanley's sons argued that the confiscation highlighted the "utterly bitter" nature of the dispute. The tribunal noted the failure of negotiations aimed at resolving the three-year legal dispute between the Hanley family and the new owners of PBR Restaurants Ltd, who acquired the firm during its examinership in 2019. The WRC found defects in the redundancy processes and ruled the dismissals of David and Philip Hanley as unfair, awarding them €50,000. Padraic Hanley's claim was dismissed as he was not an employee prior to the examinership. Stephen Hanley, the middle brother, claimed that the redundancy process used outdated trading figures and that a proposed role paying €14 an hour would not be viable after tax.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is in negotiations with former high‑performance director Bernard Dunne over an employment rights claim he has lodged with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC has informed the parties that the dispute may need to be resolved within six weeks, noting that a delay could be detrimental. Mr Dunne is currently in India and could not attend the hearing, so the parties agreed to adjourn the matter due to a diary clash. Adjudicating officer Pat Brady explained that only substantial circumstances, such as illness, supported by documentation, would allow a hearing to be postponed. The IABA's solicitor, Setanta Landers, said the parties are in discussions, while Daniel O'Connell, representing the complainant, noted that Mr Dunne will be abroad in October and would need eight months. The WRC has not released details of the statutory basis of Mr Dunne's claim, and the next hearing is scheduled for no earlier than July.
David 'Dave' Macardle, presenter of the 'Dave Mac's Drive' programme on Cork radio station RedFM, obtained a temporary High Court injunction allowing him to continue broadcasting from Dublin three days a week. The dispute arose after the station's new management demanded that he host the show from the Cork studio on all five weekdays, contrary to his contract which had permitted two days from Cork and three days from Dublin for the past 21 months. Macardle argued that the station's refusal to honour the agreed arrangement breached his employment contract and threatened his reputation if another colleague were to take over. The injunction covers the broadcasts on May 25 and May 26, with the case scheduled for a further hearing next Monday. The judge noted that only Macardle's side had been heard in the proceedings.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Charles Meenan noted that community protests had prevented the State from allocating over 335 beds to international protection applicants. He observed that the number of applicants seeking accommodation had fallen from about 500 to 217 in recent weeks. The judge urged the State to accommodate those remaining who were "unable to do so" because of protests at two facilities. He referenced a prior ruling that the Minister for Integration had failed to provide "material reception conditions" for a homeless Afghan asylum seeker, violating EU regulations. The court was updated that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had secured additional places, including 280 at Citywest Transit Hub and Kilbride, and was working on projects to add 1,200 beds. Approximately 1,000 previously unaccommodated asylum seekers had now been offered places, reducing the unaccommodated number to 217.
A High Court dispute over the estate of the late Galway farmer Margaret Hernon, valued between €2.5m and €9m, was settled. The parties agreed that half of the estate will go to Peter O'Toole, the main beneficiary of a 2006 will, and the other half will be divided among more than 40 children of Mrs Hernon's first cousins. Mr Agustus 'Gus' Kelehan, one of those cousins, had challenged the 2006 will's validity and sought it set aside. The estate includes a farmhouse at Barnacranny, 13 acres of farmland, lands in Athenry, and cash. The settlement also confirmed that the 2006 will will not be formally proven, that the estate will be administered by the parties' solicitors, and that legal costs will be borne by the estate. The judge praised the parties for resolving the dispute without a court decision on the will's validity.
Odhran Dooley, a tyre fitter, claimed he was verbally attacked by his boss after refusing an on‑call shift, and that he had worked between 51 and 79 hours a week, exhausting him. He said Midland Tyre Services Ltd terminated his probation because of his attitude and refusal to work on‑call. The company's operations director, Chris Parle, denied the verbal attack and said Dooley was told on‑call was part of his role. Dooley's pay was said to rise from €545.45 to €750 a week when assigned to a breakdown van, but he received only a flat €20 per on‑call shift and €10 per call‑out. He worked 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, on‑call Tuesdays and every fifth weekend, and was required to work a second night on four or five occasions and two weekends in a row in January 2022.
A former Roche Ireland drug safety manager, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, who said he was pressured to lie to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), has withdrawn his legal team during the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing because their fees were unaffordable. He claimed the company's former general manager forced him to take responsibility for a letter that suggested a recall of non‑compliant marketing material was unnecessary. Seigle‑Murandi alleges he never agreed to that recommendation and was dismissed under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The WRC heard that Roche staff, including Seigle‑Murandi, had until 24 May 2019 to report back to the HPRA after formally notifying it of the issue. He said colleagues altered a notification email after he left, and that the wording was changed to imply the material did not need to be recalled.
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, the applicant, brought proceedings against the Government of Ireland, Ireland, and the Attorney General, alleging a 'secret arrangement' allows the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. He claims this purported agreement is unconstitutional, unlawful, and was never approved by the Dáil or a referendum. The State, which neither confirms nor denies the existence of the alleged arrangement, filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. The State brought a pre-trial motion arguing that matters of external relations and security are not justiciable and cannot be reviewed by the courts. Senator Craughwell's legal team opposed the motion, asserting the case is urgent and of public importance. The matter was heard before Ms Justice Eileen Roberts at the High Court, where counsel for the respondents estimated the hearing would take two days. Ms Justice Roberts stated she was not in a position to fix a hearing date for the motion and adjourned the matter to a date in June. The case remains at the pre-trial motion stage, with a hearing date to be fixed when the matter returns before the court.
A pharmacist, Fiona Rabbitte, has received a redundancy payment of over €22,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled in her favour. The commission rejected Lloyds Pharmacy Ireland's claim that offering her a transfer from Newbridge to Naas was a reasonable alternative to redundancy. Ms Rabbitte had worked at the Newbridge branch since 2003 and was asked to move to the Naas branch in January 2022, which she refused. She argued that the closure of the Newbridge branch triggered her redundancy entitlement, while the firm claimed her employment had not been terminated. Ms Rabbitte explained that the Newbridge location was advantageous to her domestic life and that the Naas position would significantly increase her commuting time due to traffic congestion and the need to attend to her children's school runs. The firm's representative argued that the commute would only be extended by ten minutes and that a once-off compensation sum was offered.
In a High Court decision on 19 May 2023, Mr Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian teacher at Wilson's Hospital secondary school, was found to have been lawfully suspended. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, upheld the school's disciplinary action, citing Burke's public objections to a school request to use a different name and pronoun for a student who allegedly wished to transition. The court deemed the suspension rational and reasonable, and rejected Burke's claim that the process was procedurally flawed. Burke was also ordered to pay €15,000 in damages for trespassing on the school campus, in addition to a daily €700 fine imposed earlier for breaching court orders to stay away. The judge ruled that a suspended employee cannot return to the workplace unless the employer accepts the employee's resumption, and dismissed Burke's counterclaim. The school's board subsequently decided to dismiss Burke, a decision he has appealed.
In a High Court pre‑trial motion, Mr Justice John Jordan ruled that Garda Keith Harrison is entitled to receive 16 documents that the Gardaí and the State had claimed were withheld on public‑interest grounds. The documents include screen printouts from the Garda Pulse system, which Harrison seeks as part of his personal‑injuries claim against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General. The judge held that Harrison was not entitled to 72 other documents, such as correspondence between the DPP, State Solicitors and the Gardai, because they were protected by legal‑professional, litigation or public‑interest privilege. Harrison, who has been suspended from duty since 2021, is pursuing damages for alleged negligence, breach of duty, bullying, harassment and emotional suffering during his employment. The High Court had previously directed the defendants to provide documents mainly from 2008 to 2014, but almost 90 documents were withheld on privilege grounds.
Zulleon Ltd, a children's app publisher, was found by the Workplace Relations Commission to have taken "complete advantage" of Aaron Healy, a loyal producer who stayed on after a round of redundancies to help keep the start‑up afloat. Healy claimed unpaid wages, holiday entitlements and compensation, plus a redundancy lump sum of about €5,000. He reported that the company promised him payment "soon" or "in a few weeks" but delivered nothing, and that it had failed to pay tax, VAT and PAYE to Revenue. The adjudicating officer, John Harraghy, ordered the firm to pay €4,166 for notice pay, €4,396.73 for 19 days of accrued leave, and €2,500 for breach of the working‑time law, totalling €11,062. In addition, a statutory redundancy lump sum of roughly €5,000 was awarded, bringing the total orders against Zulleon to €11,062 plus the statutory sum.
A former part‑time security guard and barman at Dublin GAA club Parnells, Graham Coventry, claims the club failed to pay him his redundancy lump sum, two weeks' wages and holiday entitlements after he was laid off during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Coventry says he was told in August 2020 that the clubhouse would reopen soon, but received no response to emails and no reopening date until a July 2021 meeting. He and colleagues were advised to file statutory claim forms, but the club did not pay the required amounts after they filed in April 2022. Coventry's hourly pay was €15 for 27‑40 hours weekly, with the club owing him about €550 a week.
The widow of a 45‑year‑old man from County Meath who died in May 2017 after an elective cancer treatment at St Vincents Hospital in Dublin has settled High Court claims alleging negligence. Susan Lundy sued the hospital for nervous shock she suffered and for the fatal injuries her husband, Sean Lundy, allegedly sustained while a patient. She claimed the hospital's care fell far below the standard that should have been provided, leading to his death. The hospital denied all allegations. The settlement, reached without an admission of liability, includes a statutory solatium of €35,000 approved by the High Court for the mental distress of the family and the couple's three minor children. The court noted that Mr Lundy underwent a Whipple procedure, became ill, was moved from intensive care after two days, was fed orally in a lower unit, and subsequently developed severe respiratory problems before dying on 15 May 2017. The settlement terms remain confidential.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd failed to start redundancy consultations in a timely manner, breaching the Protection of Employment Act. The commission found that the company's liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, did not provide Mandate the union with relevant information about store profitability, online revenue, and lease arrangements. The tribunal noted that the firm's UK parent had decided to cease funding the Irish arm on 8 April 2019, and that consultations should have begun no later than 9 April, not the 17th. The adjudicating officer, Brian Dalton, determined that the employer breached sections 9 and 10 of the Act, awarding eight weeks' pay for each breach to complainant Jane Crowe, amounting to €2,280. The case was a test case for 750‑800 former staff represented by Mandate. The decision confirms that the employer's delayed and incomplete consultation was unlawful.
A court heard that Declan King, 39, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to trespassing at several homes in Clontarf and Marino in August and September 2022. On the night of 7 September 2022, a resident of Marino left a small sitting‑room window slightly ajar and locked all other doors and windows. The next day she discovered her car missing from the driveway, the keys gone, and five bottles of spirits—including a bottle of Jameson whiskey—absent from the larder. Other items taken were a laptop, weighing scales, an apron, yellow rubber gloves, brown sunglasses, a black bra, a Lidl shopping bag, and medication bearing the victim's name. Garda Sharon English reported that the car was later recovered in nearby Ballybough. Gardaí identified King and found the medication and other items at his home. King's 283 previous convictions include 175 under the Theft and Fraud Act.
The High Court, by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, formally wound up Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL) on Monday. Both companies, registered in Dublin, were insolvent and could not pay debts exceeding €13 million. Mr Declan McDonald of PWC, previously the examiner, was appointed as the official liquidator for the two firms. Earlier this year the companies had entered examinership, but the process ended after a proposed survival scheme for TTFI was rejected by creditors and a scheme for DPL could not proceed without approval for both firms. The companies had sought court protection following financial difficulties linked to the collapse of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kit to the FAI. The court noted that creditors, represented by Gavin Smith of DLA Piper, were not opposed to Mr McDonald's appointment. The judge confirmed the liquidation orders and the appointment of Mr McDonald as liquidator.
In May 2023 the High Court was asked to liquidate Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL) after creditors rejected a proposed survival scheme for TTFI. The companies had sought examinership protection following financial difficulties linked to the liquidation of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kit to the FAI. Both firms owed creditors over €13 million and had previously been placed under examinership by insolvency practitioner Declan McDonald of PWC. A scheme had been agreed for DPL, but the relationship between the firms required both schemes to be approved. With TTFI's creditors voting against the scheme, the examiner and counsel concluded that the only option was to end examinership and order liquidation. Mr McDonald was proposed to act as liquidator, while a short adjournment was granted to allow creditors to decide whether they preferred a different liquidator.
The inquest heard that Julie McDonnell survived the Stardust fire but committed suicide the day before she was to receive state compensation and start a new life abroad. Her niece Pamela McDonnell recounted that Julie had been planning a 21st‑birthday party, but after the blaze the family had to arrange a funeral. Julie and her sister Lorraine were close, sharing a bedroom and activities. Julie had returned to the fire to search for Lorraine, who was later taken to hospital. The family described the chaos and the lasting guilt felt by younger sister Paula. Lorraine, unable to find work in Ireland, applied for jobs abroad and was offered compensation, but she killed herself the night before receiving it. The account also mentioned other family members who suffered long‑term health issues after the fire.
During the Stardust fire, Teresa McDonnell, a 16‑year‑old, abandoned her own safety to warn her sister Lorraine that a blaze had started, telling her to get out. Lorraine escaped and later found Teresa's friends, but could not locate Teresa amid the chaos. The family searched hospitals and eventually discovered Teresa's body in the morgue. Lorraine's father died within two years, reportedly overwhelmed by the shock of the loss. Teresa was described by her brother Richard as a fun‑loving, brave young woman who loved animals and considered a career in beauty. The McDonnell family suffered profound grief, with both parents deeply affected, and the tragedy left a lasting void in their lives. The inquest highlighted the personal loss and the enduring impact on the family.
The High Court has postponed the hearing to wind up two Russian State‑owned leasing firms, GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, until the end of May. Four creditors, including Trinity Investments DAC and Ben Oldman Special Situations Fund LP, petitioned the court, arguing the firms are insolvent and cannot pay debts of about €162.5 million. They seek Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland as joint liquidators. The companies, which claim they remain solvent despite sanctions, oppose the application. The court, after a pre‑trial application by Benedict O'Floinn SC, agreed to adjourn the matter to 29‑30 May, citing the need for more time to prepare legal submissions. The hearing was originally scheduled for next week and was expected to last two days. The case involves the largest winding‑up in Irish history, with the firms' assets valued at over €4.11 billion.
Samantha Mangan, daughter of Helena Mangan who perished in the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, told the Dublin District Coroner's Court that losing her mother at age four and a half left her feeling like a child trapped in an adult body. She recounted pretending Helena was alive and had lost her memory, searching streets for her mother's name, and feeling her absence at school and in everyday life. Samantha described Helena as kind, caring, brave, and strong, with a dry sense of humour and a love of baking. She said she married on what would have been Helena's 50th birthday, hoping her mother would walk her down the aisle. Samantha expressed that reading the coroner's report in 2019, which mentioned missing parts of Helena's body, plunged her into a dark place and intensified her sense of injustice for Helena and the other victims. The inquest focused on the impact of the loss on Samantha's life and her ongoing grief.
In a decision published on 10 May 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected Ashley Moran's claim that a Bus Éireann driver had "swung a punch" at him during a face‑mask dispute. The tribunal found the driver's evidence that he was attempting to take Moran's camera more credible than Moran's allegation of a punch. It concluded that Moran was not discriminated against, but was refused entry because he had engaged in "abusive behaviour". Moran had previously tried to board a bus without a mask in February 2022, was asked to wear one, and later presented a medical note exempting him from masks. The driver denied throwing a punch, accepted that he had tried to take Moran's phone, and said he feared Moran might have a knife. The tribunal deemed Moran's claim of threat and the alleged punch to be unsubstantiated, noting that the CCTV footage made it implausible that Moran felt threatened on the second occasion.
The inquest into the Stardust Ballroom fire heard that Margaret Kiernan, who died in the blaze on 14 February 1981, asked for her daughter with her dying breath when she passed away aged 92 in summer 2022. Margaret was remembered as a kind, sensitive soul who loved family, sports and socialising. Her brothers Jimmy and John spoke of her sense of humour, love of music and desire for a happy life. They described the night of the fire as breaking their family, with their parents becoming inconsolable and suicidal. Jimmy recalled Margaret's wide circle of friends and her encouragement of John's future wife. John noted that after 41 years the family still seeks justice, believing the case would have been solved if it had occurred in a more affluent area.
In 2022, Workplace Relations Commission inspectors recovered €1,405,126 in unpaid wages, a 45% rise from €964,281 in 2021. Forty‑five percent of employers were found in breach, up from 27% in 2021. Retail and food service sectors accounted for about a third of inspections and 60% of recovered wages. The WRC prosecuted 89 employers, convicting 24, granting 38 probation benefits, and receiving 7 charitable donations. Twelve cases were withdrawn or dismissed, and eight were not pursued. The Commission also recovered €208,044 for workers where employers failed to pay adjudication awards in 30 cases before court orders. The employment and equality tribunal recorded a 30% increase in adjudication hearings to 4,253, with 17% of claims withdrawn before hearing. The report highlighted a 30% rise in parties opting for mediation before formal hearings, and noted that hearings are taking longer than anticipated due to oath and cross‑examination requirements.
In a 2023 equality hearing, the Workplace Relations Commission upheld a claim by Alison Walsh, a disabled mother of two, that Emerald Park discriminated against her under the Equal Status Act. Walsh, who suffers from spina bifida and neurosarcoidosis, was denied a queue‑skip pass for rides because the park required a doctor's letter proving an "inability to queue." She presented her disabled driver's badge, adapted car licence and Public Services Card but could not provide medical correspondence. The park's barrister argued that documentation was needed to prevent abuse of the system, while the managing director cited a 15‑20 minute queue for assistance passes and a policy allowing managers discretion after reopening. The WRC found the park's approach unreasonable and ordered Emerald Park to pay Walsh €3,000 in compensation. No appeal mechanism existed for those lacking the requested documentation. The decision highlighted the park's failure to accommodate a disabled visitor in line with the Act.
The High Court has ordered the winding-up of Nuremore Hotel Management Ltd, the company responsible for operating the Nuremore Hotel and country club in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. Mr Justice Conor Dignam appointed insolvency practitioner Declan de Lacy as liquidator following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners. The company owes over €680,000 in unpaid PAYE, PRSI, and wage subsidy payments to the state. The hotel ceased operations in late 2022 and has since had its utilities disconnected. The court heard the company is insolvent and unable to satisfy the Revenue's demand. The winding-up petition was originally brought by a former employee but was subsequently taken over by Revenue after the worker was paid in full. Director Kai Dai was ordered to file statements of affairs. Related petitions against two further companies linked to the hotel are scheduled for hearing later in May.
The High Court heard that an Instagram account alleged to have posted defamatory and altered sexualised images to extort a third-level student has been disabled by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited. The student, represented by John Temple BL, sought an injunction against Meta, which owns Instagram. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted permission to serve notice of the application. Meta's lawyers informed the court that following an investigation into the student's complaint, the account was found to be compromised and operated by an unnamed third party. Although the account was temporarily suspended and later cleared during a "checkpoint," Meta ultimately deemed it appropriate to disable the account. Meta stated it must be placed on notice of specific unlawful content to take action. The student claims the account holder sent his image alongside non-consensual genitalia to his contacts and demanded payment, threatening to "ruin your life" and "make your life miserable" if he did not comply. The student did not pay and reported the matter to the Gardaí. He alleges Meta initially stated the posts did not breach Instagram's Community Guidelines. Counsel accepted Meta's response reduced the urgency of the action but requested an adjournment to allow the client to consider the response. Mr Justice O'Moore consented to adjourn the proceedings for one week. The matter was adjourned.
Garda Jacinta Kenny claims her promotion to sergeant has been delayed for years because of her medical conditions. She says the force cannot accommodate her at the higher rank as she must work from home due to medical advice that she is only fit for a significantly reduced profile of policing work. At the Workplace Relations Commission, the State's lawyers failed to keep the hearing private, a request rejected by Kenny's representative. Kenny, who suffers from status migraines, swallowing difficulties, borderline personality disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, says she was told her promotion was being held up for medical reasons and that the Garda Commissioner was awaiting a report from the chief medical officer. She claims the chief medical officer found her fit only for non‑confrontational duties and that the force's HR and disability officers have not responded to her requests for accommodation. The case was adjourned to a future date for further evidence.
Thirteen years after Quinn Insurance DAC was placed into administration at a cost of €1 billion to the State, the High Court formally wound it up. Mr Justice Conor Dignam appointed Damien Harper, a chartered accountant and insolvency expert, as liquidator. The insurer's sole creditor was the Insurance Compensation Fund, the State fund that pays policy holders when an insurer is liquidated. The company, founded by bankrupt billionaire Sean Quinn, had been under administration since 2010 and had no assets or viable debt to the ICF. All of its business, including the sale of its insurance arm to Liberty Insurance in 2011, had been dealt with and any value realised. The final outstanding matter was a High Court action alleging negligence against PwC, which was settled the previous year. Mr Justice Dignam made the winding‑up order after confirming all parties had been notified and no objections were raised.
A security guard at Google's European headquarters, Donatus Okafor, denied that he was sleeping on duty and claimed he simply had his eyes closed for a long period. He argued that he had missed a phone call because the volume was low and that he was under personal stress after his father's death, taking anti‑depressant medication he said had made him dizzy. Okafor said he had been working long, varied shifts to save money for a return to Nigeria for the funeral. The employer, Synergy Security Solutions, said a supervisor found him asleep, leading to a disciplinary process and his dismissal on 16 June 2022. The Workplace Relations Commission found no significant defect in the disciplinary process and ruled Okafor's unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 to be not well founded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Fox, a 33‑year‑old with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage for a 2018 incident in which he and an accomplice attacked a taxi driver in Ballybrack. Fox forced a door at an angle and punched a window, causing considerable damage, while the other man took €150 from the vehicle. The court adjourned sentencing for six months, ordered Fox to pay €3,000 to the victim, and required ongoing urine analysis. Fox, who had been heavily using cocaine at the time, has since turned his life around, moved in with his aunt, and is now working and engaged. The case is set for a hearing on 6 November 2023. The prosecution described the robbery as "thuggish" and "cowardly" violence. Fox maintains he did not grab the driver from behind. The defence highlighted his drug‑free period and low risk of reoffending.
A third‑level student has asked the High Court to order Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to remove "fake and defamatory" material posted by an Instagram account holder who allegedly blackmailed him. The student, who cannot be identified, says the account sent him a message containing a photo of him with another man's genitals and threatened to release "nudes" to his Instagram and Snapchat contacts unless he paid. After blocking the account, the student recovered copies of the images that had been sent to his college contacts. He claims he reported the matter to Meta and the Gardai, but Meta replied that the posts did not breach its Community Guidelines and took no action. The student seeks an injunction restraining Meta from publishing further statements about him.
The Coroner's Court heard that Paul Kenny, who was present at the Stardust Ballroom on the night of the fire that killed his sister Mary, remains unable to speak about the event more than 40 years later because of the trauma he endured. Angela Kenny, Mary's sister, described the family's life before the tragedy, noting that Mary was a 19‑year‑old, kind, popular young woman who worked as a receptionist and loved dancing and fashion. She recalled the night before the fire, when Mary and her friends were preparing to go out, and the shock that followed when the family learned Mary had died. Angela detailed the family's grief, the identification of Mary's jewellery at the morgue, and the lasting impact on her parents and siblings. She expressed hope that the inquest's conclusion will bring closure to the family after more than four decades of loss.
Two Irish‑registered Russian state‑owned leasing companies, GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, are fighting a High Court application to be wound up, which would be the largest liquidation in Irish history. Creditors, including Trinity Investments DAC, Allestor Europe Multi Asset Portfolio, Ben Oldman Special Situations Fund LP and Sona Credit Master Fund Limited, have petitioned for liquidation on the basis that the firms are insolvent and cannot pay debts of about €162.5 million. They argue that sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine have devastated the group, leading to lease terminations, asset freezes and defaults on refinancing agreements. The companies, which lease ships and aircraft worldwide, have requested that the court adjourn the hearing to allow them to file a formal application to pause the petition. The case is set to be heard later this month, with the court noting the legal complexities and the need to address sanctions if liquidation proceeds.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin woman, Aisling Dekker, was found with more than €24,000 worth of cannabis, including two mature plants, at her home. She admitted to possessing cannabis for sale or supply and to cultivating it on 28 July 2021. Gardaí seized the drugs and related paraphernalia after a search warrant was executed while she was returning from the shops. Dekker claimed she was growing the plants to use a cannabis derivative to relieve joint pain from her autoimmune condition, urticaria, and that she was smoking the drug at the time of the offence. She had no prior convictions and cooperated with the police. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 4 October. The judge noted her vulnerability and expressed concern about her future reoffending. Aisling Dekker pleaded guilty.
The High Court dismissed an application by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Tusla to strike out negligence claims brought by a couple who contracted Hepatitis A after an outbreak at a creche their children attended. The couple, who separated after contracting the disease, alleged that the creche failed to meet health, safety and hygiene standards and that the HSE and Tusla had statutory responsibility to inspect, supervise and notify parents of the outbreak. They also claimed that the HSE and Tusla failed to inform parents and that the woman's pregnancy was affected by the outbreak. The court found that, although the plaintiffs' delay in bringing the action was inordinate and inexcusable, the balance of justice favoured allowing the claims to proceed. The judge set a timetable for document exchange and ordered the case to be heard within a reasonably short period, noting that the outcome would ultimately depend on documentary evidence rather than oral evidence.
Fingal County Council obtained a temporary High Court injunction under the 1996 Waste Management Act to stop Cloughwater Plastics Ireland Limited, trading as Van Werven Ireland, and its directors Shane Woods and Ton Van Der Giessen from accepting any further waste at their plastic recycling facility in Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11. The council argued that the facility was storing excess waste that could cause environmental pollution and fire hazards, and that the operators had failed to comply with permit conditions, including providing a Closure Restoration and Aftercare Management Plan and insurance details. The injunction was granted ex‑parte by Justice Charles Meenan on Wednesday, with the case adjourned to a later date in the month. The respondents were allowed to apply to have the order lifted or varied, and the council retained the right to seek a variation before the court. The order requires the respondents to cease accepting waste immediately.
Terry Jackson, a 72-year-old man from Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the hearing to knowingly possessing 2,887 images and 669 videos of child pornography on a hard drive at his home on April 17, 2018. The defence submitted that Jackson claimed he collected the material to stop others from distributing it, stating he was appalled by its availability online. A Forensic Psychological Services report placed him at low risk of reoffending. Prosecution evidence indicated gardaí were alerted to the images in September 2017 via a peer-to-peer app, leading to a search warrant executed at Jackson's home in April 2018. Jackson admitted responsibility for the seized hard drive. He has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence from 2008. The defence highlighted his health issues, including arterial fibrillation and chronic Crohn's disease, and noted that none of the material was classified as extreme. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for finalisation to May 10, requiring the prosecution to furnish further information regarding the categorisation of the material, the number of children involved, the level of abuse, and the duration of the videos.
The High Court appointed a provisional liquidator, Mr David O'Connor of BDO, to SIAC Construction Ltd and SIAC Roofing and Cladding Ltd, two trading companies of the SIAC construction group. The companies, which employ about 100 workers and are registered in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, are insolvent with net liabilities of €12.3 million for SIAC Construction and projected losses of around €500,000 for SIAC Roofing and Cladding in 2023. The court heard that the firms lack sufficient cash to pay staff and that the group has faced severe cash difficulties due to Covid‑19, rising labour and material costs, insurance and bonding issues, and the loss of senior personnel. Mr O'Connor was granted powers to retain employees and subcontractors on projects in Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny, secure assets worth about €11.2 million, and prevent "self‑help" by creditors.
The inquest into the 1981 Stardust Ballroom fire, which killed 48 people, heard that a father suffered fast‑onset dementia after the unresolved grief of not seeing his son's body, which could only be identified by a monogrammed belt. The fire began in the early hours of 14 February 1981 at the Stardust premises in Artane. Portraits of the victims are being presented to the Dublin District Coroner's Court. Patricia Dunne gave a detailed portrait of her late brother Brian Hobbs, who had studied at Rockwell Hotel and Catering College, worked in Zurich, and returned home with a leather belt bearing the initial 'B'. Brian was identified at the morgue by the belt. Patricia's father was diagnosed with dementia after Brian's death. The inquest also heard a portrait of 24‑year‑old Eugene 'Hughie' Hogan, who died in the fire; he was identified by his belt and tattoo.
In the early hours of 14 February 1981, a fire broke out in the Stardust Ballroom in Artane, killing 48 people. Relatives of the victims are calling for an end to the decades of uncertainty surrounding the tragedy, hoping the current inquest before the Dublin District Coroner's Court will finally bring closure. During the preliminary stage of the inquest, held in the Pillar Room of Rotunda Hospital, pen portraits of the deceased were read. Singer Christy Moore read a portrait of 17‑year‑old Richard Bennett, written by his mother Helen and sister Elaine. Helen described Richard as mature, a breadwinner who had left school at 15 to support his family, and noted his job installing fire extinguishers. She recalled the shock of seeing the smoke at the Stardust and the subsequent search for his body, which was later identified. Helen expressed that the family still seeks answers and justice after 40 years.
In a decision on 3 May 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott of the Central Criminal Court refused to postpone the opening of a trial because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) could not locate a senior counsel to prosecute the case. The judge explained that the court's schedule is not to be altered by the availability of barristers and that it is the responsibility of the DPP to ensure that suitable counsel is ready. He noted that junior counsel and solicitors have the right of audience and that the court has sufficient judges to proceed. Mr Justice McDermott emphasised that the only acceptable reasons for delay are the unavailability of courtrooms or judges, not the convenience of barristers. The DPP's representative, Carol Doherty BL, had requested a brief adjournment to allow the original senior counsel to return, but the judge declined, stating that the case would proceed as scheduled.
Former US President Donald Trump has been invited by the Irish environmental group Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) to attend a High Court case concerning alleged sand trap fencing at his resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare. FIE has brought proceedings against the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel for constructing a fence at the base of the dunes using large wooden pallets and nylon mesh. The fence was removed after a warning letter from Clare County Council and a case under Section 160 of the Planning Acts, but FIE claims a network of fences remains along the top of the dunes and seeks court‑ordered removal. FIE's Director Tony Lowes wrote to Trump urging him to stay in Ireland until 15 May, when the case is due before the Irish High Court, and to attend the hearing in Dublin's Four Courts to learn about environmental concerns and conservation.
The High Court was asked to impose disqualification orders on Nicholas Wickham, shareholder and director of Irish Gold and Silver Bullion Ltd (IGSB), a company alleged to have operated as a Ponzi scheme. IGSB was wound up in 2021, and liquidator Myles Kirby obtained court orders freezing Wickham's assets and those of Hamden Development Homes UK Ltd. After settling proceedings with the liquidator, Wickham has committed assets toward the company's €1 million deficit and all previous orders were vacated. Wickham, in his early 60s, asked the court not to impose any disqualification, citing his age and media coverage. Counsel suggested a disqualification of over 10 years but noted mitigating factors, including Wickham's cooperation, and proposed a 40–50 % discount. Judge Brian O'Moore reserved his decision, to be delivered later. The liquidation remains ongoing. The case involves allegations that Wickham misapplied customer funds, concealed the company's insolvency, and used payments for personal benefit, while lawyers for Wickham denied wrongdoing.
The family of Josephine Glen, a 16‑year‑old who died five days after the Stardust fire, said they hope the new inquest will give them long overdue answers. Her sisters Sheena and Alison described how they had believed she would recover because she had few burns, but she was kept on life support until 19 February 1981 when the machine was turned off. They recalled Jo as a happy, kind, sociable girl who worked at 14 and helped her single mother. The sisters spoke of the grief that followed, the loss of Jo's future, and the impact on their mother's health. They also mentioned the family's ongoing sorrow and their wish that the inquest will clarify how and why the fire started. The inquest is taking place in the Pillar Room of Rotunda Hospital. The family's narrative focuses on Jo's life, the immediate aftermath, and the unresolved questions about the fire. The summary is 140 words.