Pharma firm Abbott has been ordered to pay €35,000 in compensation to Martin O'Riordan after the Workplace Relations Commission found his dismissal for using the wrong cleaning product was unfair. The commission ruled that his actions could not be considered gross misconduct. However, it rejected claims that he was penalised for raising health and safety concerns. O'Riordan was suspended following the incident and faced a disciplinary process leading to his sacking in July 2020. Abbott argued that O'Riordan failed to follow procedures, including verifying the product's label and not engaging with supervisors or quality control technicians. The company claimed his actions damaged trust in its operations. The adjudicating officer noted O'Riordan's 14 years of experience and exemplary work record, stating it was difficult to understand why lesser sanctions were not considered. The officer also noted the impact of the dismissal on O'Riordan's job prospects and awarded the compensation accordingly.
Yvonne Graham, a survivor of the 1981 Stardust Ballroom fire, gave a moving testimony at the inquest, describing the horror she and her friend Susan Morgan (19) witnessed as the blaze claimed 48 lives. Yvonne and Susan had moved from Derry to Dublin to work at the Nazareth House care home, where they lived and worked with other young women. She recalled the night of the fire, the shock of seeing friends die in front of them, and the subsequent trauma that haunted her with nightmares and compulsive safety checks. Yvonne spoke of the blame placed on the girls for being away from home, the lasting impact on her own life and her children, and her hope that the inquest will bring justice for those who suffered. The account focuses on the immediate aftermath and the enduring psychological effects of the tragedy.
The Workplace Relations Commission issued its first rulings under the 1996 Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act in a dispute involving Verizon Ireland Ltd and four staff representatives: Pavel Macho, Kevin Rodgers, Jean-Phillippe Charpentier, and Jan Fröding. The adjudicating officer found that Verizon was not required to pay hotel bills or conference fees for a training course, rejecting the workers' claims for these expenses. However, the tribunal ordered Verizon to pay Mr. Macho €4,000 in compensation for penalisation after the company accused him of misleading managers and threatened disciplinary action. The adjudicator found these actions unwarranted and ordered the warning expunged from his record. Additionally, Verizon was ordered to pay €5,610, representing 50% of an €11,220 invoice, to Mr. Charpentier for legal expert advice regarding Brexit and the lapsed works council agreement. The tribunal noted that while the workers had standing to claim, their failure to consult before incurring costs breached the spirit of co-operation. The matter was concluded with these specific financial orders and the dismissal of the remaining conference expense claims.
In a High Court application, property developer Greg Kavanagh seeks orders to prevent the sale of Wynnstay House, a derelict Dublin property valued at over €2m. Kavanagh, director of Greg Kavanagh Dev Co Ltd, claims an agreement from a settlement of a prior dispute entitles his company to purchase the house from its registered owner, Ballycrag Developments Limited, which is in receivership, and from Ms Anne O'Neill, who holds a charge. He alleges the agreement to buy is being reneged on and that the property has been listed for €2.25m. Kavanagh argues that a €200,000 deposit was paid in March, with a further €1.8m due within eight months, but disputes claims that the payment was late or that he was evading obligations. The court granted permission to serve notice of the injunction application and will consider the matter at a next‑week sitting.
The Stardust inquest heard testimony about 26‑year‑old Michael Farrell, whose sister Monica D'Arcy described him as the heart of the family. After the fire, Michael was identified only by a watch and later by dental records. Monica recounted the night of the tragedy, noting that Michael and his girlfriend Thelma Frazer were at the disco supporting their brother Pat, who searched for them until the early morning. She described Michael's interests—music, Bruce Lee, dancing, pitch‑and‑putt—and his love for family, especially his mother. The inquest also included remarks from Michael's niece Angela Shepard, who spoke of the pain of never seeing Michael again and the need for validation and justice for the 48 young victims. The testimony highlighted the lasting grief and the family's desire for dignity and closure.
Caroline Tiernan, sister of Michael Ffrench, a Stardust victim, spoke at the inquest, describing the "crushing grief" of waiting 25 years for her brother's formal identification. Michael, one of five victims whose bodies were too badly burned to identify, was finally identified in 2007 through DNA testing. He was the eldest of seven children, a gentle giant, electrician, and music lover, who was loved and respected in his community. Caroline recalled his caring nature, his support for his mother, and his role as a protector and role model. She described the emotional turmoil of the night of the fire, the repeated visits to the morgue, and her mother's breakdown. The family endured a long wait, and the second time they saw Michael's coffin, the grief was again overwhelming, leaving a void that will never be filled.
A Lidl worker, Kamil Goljanak, who suffered from depression, was disciplined in absentia and dismissed after missing emails that claimed he had failed to submit sick notes. The supermarket argued it had no contact with him during a two‑month unexplained absence and that it had followed its absence notification process. However, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Lidl Ireland had a medical note on file that was not mentioned in the investigation report that led to the dismissal. Goljanak had provided sealed envelopes with his medical certificates to a former colleague, who was instructed not to send them to HR. The tribunal concluded that the dismissal was unfair, noting the presence of a sick note in the employee's file, and awarded €16,000 in compensation.
In a High Court hearing, Canadian businessman Louis Trudel, CEO of TTMG International SARL, alleged that Waterford‑based Carray Homes Unlimited and its director Darren Carroll committed fraud by misrepresenting progress on a €1.2 million loan used to build 25 houses and 6 apartments at Adamstown Kilmeaden. Trudel claimed the loans, repayable in 11 months at 30 % interest, were advanced in two tranches: €300,000 to demonstrate cash flow to Waterford County Council and €900,000 to purchase land. He said aerial photographs supplied by the defendants were falsified, and that a colleague's drone images proved the reports were misleading. Trudel has not seen any agreement with the council and seeks repayment of the loans. After partial payment of €50,000, the remaining €250,000 of the first tranche remains unpaid.
Families who lost loved ones in the Stardust nightclub blaze gathered at the Garden of Rememberance before the inquest. The third day of the inquest took place in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital, where pen portraits of the 48 people who died were read. Susan Behan spoke of her brother Johnny Colgan, who was 21 when he died. She described him as a charismatic, upbeat young man who loved football and socialising. She recalled that he had gone to the Stardust and never returned, and that she had seen him the day before the fire. Siobhan Kearney, sister of Liam Dunne, who was 18 when he died, described the week he spent in hospital and his eventual death on 11 March 1981. Alison Keane, sister of Jacqueline Croker, who was 19 when she died, recalled the shock of the news and the impact on her family. The inquest will continue tomorrow with further pen portraits.
A factory worker who is a recovering alcoholic brought a discrimination claim to the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging that colleagues had taunted him by leaving beer bottles and pint glasses around the workplace. He said he was suspended for allegedly smelling of drink after a spillage incident on 17 September 2019, and that he was later transferred to other duties. The employer argued the bottles were litter from a nearby nightclub and that the worker was sent home without pay for health and safety reasons under the company's alcohol and drugs policy, not suspended. The tribunal found the worker's evidence inconsistent and concluded that he had not been discriminated against or harassed on the grounds of disability, dismissing the complaint. The decision was fully anonymised. The case involved a dispute over a spillage, verbal abuse, and allegations of taunting by colleagues. The tribunal noted the worker had resigned in December 2019.
In a High Court hearing, a woman aged in her late 70s who claims she was a long‑term partner of a deceased man sought proper provision from his estate. She argued that she lacked mental capacity to instruct her lawyers, but the judge ruled she had the capacity to continue the proceedings. The court noted medical evidence of cognitive difficulties but found no proof that she could not understand the nature of the case. The woman, who was named a co‑executor but renounced that role to bring her action, claims entitlement under the 2010 Civil Partnership Act. She also pursued related actions to prevent her removal as a director of a company run by the deceased and to secure a right of residence. The judge adjourned the case, stating it would likely take many more days to resolve. The court declined to allow her lawyers to come off record in any of the three actions.
At the Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust Ballroom fire, Maria Carey, sister of 17‑year‑old victim Caroline, delivered a moving tribute. She described Caroline as a beautiful, witty, bubbly girl with a heart of gold, a talented Irish dancer who had switched to disco dancing. Maria recalled that Caroline left home on the night of February 13, 1981, to dance at the club, and that she was the only friend who did not return. The next morning, a knock on the door brought news of the fire; a Garda later confirmed Caroline's death. Maria said Caroline died from toxic fumes, not from a direct burn, and that she was still alive when a fireman tried to resuscitate her. She reflected on the lasting grief, the black cloud that settled over the family, and how Caroline's name lives on in nieces and nephews. The inquest highlighted the tragedy's impact on the Carey family and the broader community.
At the opening of the inquest into the 1981 Stardust Ballroom fire, Maria Byrne, sister of 19‑year‑old Paula Byrne who perished in the blaze, spoke about the last words her family said to Paula before she left for a dance competition that night. She recalled the family's farewell: "Goodbye, have a good night in the Stardust, enjoy the dancing." Maria described Paula as a peacemaker, people‑loving, loyal, kind and beautiful, and noted that Paula had been named after a boy the family expected, but the birth of a girl changed the name. She recounted the frantic search for Paula after the fire, the media coverage, and the eventual realization that Paula was gone. Maria expressed that the tragedy's pain cannot be erased and welcomed the inquest as a step toward preventing a repeat of the disaster, hoping justice will prevail.".
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, Errol Buckley spoke of the guilt he feels over his brother Jimmy's death, saying it has "eaten away" at him. He described Jimmy, aged 23, as a caring, talented singer who had won a talent show at the club before the fire. Errol recalled dancing in a Valentine's disco competition that night, winning a prize, and seeing Jimmy beam with pride before the tragedy. He searched for Jimmy for hours, eventually learning he had been taken to a hospital and later identified by his wedding ring. Errol also mentioned that their brother Albert died of a heart attack at 41, which he believes was linked to the night's trauma. The inquest, held at the Rotunda Hospital, continues to examine the events of the fire that claimed 48 lives.
In April 2023, a veterinary surgery receptionist who had reported suspected theft by a colleague was dismissed and later awarded €15,600 in compensation by the Workplace Relations Commission. The receptionist first noticed cash missing from the clinic's till in September 2021 and reported it to her employer, who dismissed her concerns as unnecessary. She later observed the vet selling medication and pocketing cash, which she reported again. The vet allegedly became hostile, and the employer threatened her with job loss. The tribunal found she had made a protected disclosure and that dismissal was likely due to that disclosure. The decision awarded her 1.5 years' wages for a part‑time role, plus additional amounts for breaches of working time and contract provisions, totaling €16,980. The case highlights alleged retaliation for whistleblowing.
A High Court judicial review challenge against a proposed waste transfer station in East County Galway has been withdrawn because the planning permission for the development expired in January. The proceedings were brought by a group of local residents, including Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan, against Galway County Council's decision to grant a permit to Bruscar Bhearna Teoranta, trading as Barna Recycling. The applicants alleged that the council failed to carry out a screening for an Appropriate Assessment or determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment was required. They claimed the development, located at Poolboy in Ballinasloe, posed risks to the River Suck Callows, a designated Special Protection Area, and that the council did not properly consider EU Habitats directives regarding emissions. Counsel for the residents, Evan O'Donnell BL, informed the court that the case was now moot due to the permission's expiration. The presiding judge agreed to strike out the proceedings. The developers were a notice party to the action. This follows a history where a 2019 permit was quashed by the High Court and remitted for reconsideration; the council subsequently refused permission in 2020 before granting a new permit in March 2022, which was the subject of this withdrawn challenge.
The Irish arm of a Russian aircraft leasing firm, Avia Capital Leasing Ltd, faced a series of employment rights cases after staff refused to be paid in roubles following sanctions. At the Workplace Relations Commission, the company secured adjournments in two cases brought by former staff, arguing it was not properly on notice. The adjournments also allow an Irish legal professional to seek a waiver from the sanctions regime to represent the complainants. Alexandra Skavronskaja and Sofija Krascuka alleged breaches of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973, the Payment of Wages Act 1991, and Skavronskaja also alleged a breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act 2004 over holiday entitlements. They claimed they received late pay for March 2022 and no pay for April, and that management said the company could not complete payments due to blocked bank accounts, a claim the complainants said was unconfirmed by bank representatives.
In a High Court hearing, Chartered Accountant Ken Fennell, acting as receiver for the financial fund Promontoria (Aran) Limited, obtained orders to compel unknown occupants of four caravans to vacate Knocklofty House, a protected 18th‑century building outside Clonmel. The receiver claimed that the occupants had established an unsightly makeshift camp, grazing up to 20 ponies and leaving significant debris, including bricks, wooden planks, racing traps and children's toys, which he said posed danger to humans and animals. The court noted that the occupants had been served with legal documents and were fully aware of the proceedings, yet no representation was made on their behalf. With no opposition, the judge granted the injunction, allowing the receiver to pursue sale of the property. Fennell also alleged extensive interior damage to the house, though he could not identify the perpetrators or timing of the damage.
In a High Court challenge, 32‑year‑old South Korean tattoo artist Haeseo Yoon argues that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment erred by classifying the occupation of 'Tattoo Artist' as equivalent to 'Beauticians and related occupations', thereby excluding her from obtaining a work permit. Yoon, who has lived in Ireland since 2019 on a student visa and later a working holiday visa, has worked part‑time for Wildcat Ink Limited in Dublin and seeks a full‑time role. She applied for a general employment permit last year, but the Minister refused on the basis that tattoo artists are ineligible categories. Yoon claims the refusal was irrational, unreasonable and a legal error, and that the Minister failed to consider her submissions or explain the rejection. She requests the court to quash the refusal and remand the decision for reconsideration by another officer. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted her permission to proceed, with the case scheduled to return in May.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered landlords Lisa and Michael Furlong to pay €12,000 in compensation to tenants Joselyn King and Piotr Pedzisz for discrimination on the housing assistance ground. The adjudicator found that the landlords' refusal to accept a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was the initiating factor in a campaign of harassment described as "egregious." The tribunal heard evidence that after the tenants requested HAP in November 2020, they faced intimidation, including an agricultural trailer parked against their front door, sand placed in the driveway, and electricity cuts. On 27 October 2021, gardaí were called to remove masked men carrying large tools from the property in Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. The adjudicator, Michael McEntee, noted that the Residential Tenancies Board had previously found that family members significantly interfered with the tenants' peaceful occupation. Although the landlords argued that HAP was irrelevant and that their actions were acceptable on their own property, the tribunal upheld the discrimination complaint. The €12,000 award, equivalent to approximately one year's rent, was deemed a sizeable sum reflecting the severity of the respondents' behavior. This decision follows a separate RTB determination that ordered Lisa Fanning to pay €1,741 for breaching the Residential Tenancies Act.
Adrian Heller, a worker at Floortech Industries Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after throwing a helmet at a colleague. He said the incident occurred on a Thursday in 2021 at a Limerick client site, after a resin mix error forced a floor to be re‑laid. Heller argued the act was a one‑off frustration and not gross misconduct, citing a stressful job and a supervisor's threat to report him. The company, represented by Hallisey & Partners, presented evidence of aggressive, intimidating behaviour, including a hotel incident in Galway and a prior warning in 2019. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal procedurally unfair, noting no written complaint, no right of reply, and an ambush disciplinary meeting. The adjudicating officer awarded Heller €2,500 in compensation, comprising €1,211.20 for lost earnings and €1,360 for two weeks' notice pay. The dismissal was deemed substantively fair but procedurally flawed.
The High Court was asked to order the largest winding‑up in Irish history after hearing that two Irish‑registered leasing companies, GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, worth over €4.11 billion and ultimately owned by the Russian Federation, are insolvent and cannot pay debts due to sanctions. The companies, part of Russia's largest leasing business, have had lease agreements terminated and assets frozen after sanctions imposed in February 2022. Four creditors – Trinity Investments DAC, Allestor Europe Multi Asset Portfolio, Ben Oldman Special Situations Fund LP and Sona Credit Master Fund Limited – claim €162.5 million is owed and seek liquidation. The court, hearing ex‑parte before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, set directions and deadlines for interested parties and adjourned to May to determine the hearing's length. The creditors propose Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland as joint liquidators. The case remains at the winding‑up application stage.
In a complaint of discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that landlord John Corley had acted aggressively and threatened eviction of tenant Laura Keane, who was pregnant, after she requested he sign off on a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) application. Keane, a five‑year tenant, said Corley's behaviour on 26 February 2022 was "extremely aggressive" and that the eviction notice was a direct consequence of her HAP request. The tribunal found Corley had repeatedly refused to complete the HAP form and to accept HAP payments, thereby disadvantaging Keane financially and emotionally. The adjudicator ordered Corley to complete the HAP application, accept payments, and pay Keane €13,000 in compensation for the discrimination and its effects. The decision was made without Corley's attendance at the hearing.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has dismissed a discrimination and victimisation claim brought by racecourse bookmaker Jim Desmond against the Association of Irish Racecourses CLG (AIR). Mr Desmond alleged that the operator of Mallow Racecourse refused him access to a tent during wet weather on 31 October 2021, a restriction he described as "apartheid Irish style." He claimed this constituted a "man-made discriminatory rule" imposed by AIR, arguing that other betting operators were allowed indoor facilities while on-course bookmakers were not. Mr Desmond, who stated he had attended Mallow meetings for 70 years, sought improved facilities rather than financial recompense and later attempted to progress the claim on the grounds of disability, citing compromised mobility. However, he acknowledged he had not specified a protected characteristic in his initial statutory notification. AIR chairman Paddy Walsh responded that the association had no role in designing betting rings and that Mr Desmond had failed to link his complaint to prescribed grounds. Adjudicating officer Patsy Doyle found that Mr Desmond did not have a protected disability and had not been refused service by AIR, as he paid the racecourse directly for his pitch. She determined there was no less favourable treatment by AIR and that the matter was a commercial dispute. While noting Mr Desmond acted in genuine belief, she concluded he was "mistaken" in his claim for victimisation.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer ordered a creche to pay €5,000 in compensation to a gay employee for discriminatory harassment under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The hearing, brought under the Equal Status Act 2000, found that the complainant was effectively "outed" at work after a colleague, Ms A, persistently questioned her about her romantic interests. Although the officer found no intentional targeting based on sexual orientation, he determined that Ms A's conduct constituted unlawful harassment, noting the complainant was "deeply upset" and that the creche lacked adequate sexual harassment training beyond written policies. The officer also rejected a second complaint of victimisation regarding alleged roster changes, which the respondent argued were based on business needs during the pandemic. The creche's solicitor denied discrimination, arguing the incident was handled sensitively and that the complainant failed to establish a prima facie case. The complainant's legal team argued that the manager's response undermined the employer's harassment policy. The decision was fully anonymised, with neither the creche nor the worker identified. The matter was concluded with the award of compensation for the harassment claim.
Two financial funds, Emerald Sky II DAC and Lotus Decalia DAC, and their receivers, Myles Kirby and John Healy, obtained a temporary High Court injunction to stop businessman Patrick 'Paddy' Byrne, who is alleged to be the owner and director of Victoria Homes Ltd and Victoria Homes Development Ltd, from publishing or distributing confidential financial information he claims to possess. The injunction was granted on an ex‑parte basis by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and remains in force until the case returns later in the week. Byrne's email, sent on 14 April, alleges he has the entire Lotus loan book, including names, contact details and risk assessments, and threatens to release it to the media if the plaintiffs do not respond by a specified date. The plaintiffs, represented by Edward Murray BL, argue that Byrne is not entitled to publish or distribute such material and that the email constitutes a potential GDPR breach.
A married couple, whose identities are withheld for legal reasons, have filed a High Court challenge against the Adoption Authority of Ireland's refusal to formally recognise or register the adoption of their second daughter, who was adopted in a foreign jurisdiction. The couple first adopted a child abroad while living in Ireland; that child has since obtained Irish citizenship. For the second child, they moved to the country where the adoption took place, became habitually resident there, and completed a local adoption that was recognised in that country. After returning to Ireland several years ago, they have repeatedly applied to register the second adoption with the Irish Adoption Authority. The Authority has rejected their applications, citing failures to meet Irish legal requirements and lack of habitual residence at the time of adoption. The couple argues the refusal is unlawful, alleging misapplication of Irish and European law and violations of constitutional family rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The High Court heard that Knocklofty House, a protected 18th‑century landed house outside Clonmel, is being illegally occupied by unknown persons in four caravans and a makeshift camp. The occupants have set up a camp that includes up to 20 piebald ponies, chickens and dogs housed in wooden structures, and have left a significant amount of debris on the site. The camp is described as unsightly and potentially dangerous to humans and animals. Chartered Accountant Ken Fennell, acting as receiver for the property after a settlement with former owner Denis English, seeks court orders directing the unknown occupants to vacate and cease interfering with the property. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted Mr Fennell permission to serve notice to the occupants and the case is scheduled to return to court next week.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) acted unfairly and disrespectfully when it made former Irish Army captain Seán Dillon redundant and appointed a UK manager to the role he had been performing as head of region for Ireland. The adjudicating officer found it "extraordinary" that RNLI considered a head office policy and fundraising officer more suitable for the front‑line operational role. Dillon's claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act was upheld, and the tribunal ordered RNLI to pay him €30,000 in compensation in addition to the redundancy lump sum already received. Dillon had argued that RNLI's failure to address his statutory complaint reflected contempt for Ireland, citing issues such as lack of compliance with maritime regulations, inadequate training, and the absence of new lifeboats in the country.
The owners of El Grito Mexican Tacqueria were ordered to pay waitress Paola Alba Dalivar €4,600 after the Workplace Relations Commission found seven breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. Ms Alba‑Dalivar, who worked from August 2018 to July 2021, said she never received a rest break unless she worked over eight hours and sometimes received no break at all. She also claimed she was not paid for 18 Sundays, four bank holidays, or for days off, and that she had not received paid leave between September 2020 and June 2021. The adjudicating officer awarded €1,000 for the shift‑break breach, €820 for the lack of a written contract, €500 for each of five working‑hour breaches, and €336 for bank‑holiday pay, totalling €4,650. The case was heard in the absence of the restaurant owners.
In April 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Causeway Hospitality Ltd to pay €20,000 to Nadine Harty after finding that the Greenway Manor Hotel failed to conduct a full investigation into her complaints of sexual harassment by the executive chef, Mr M. Harty, who began working as a prep chef on 29 June 2021, alleged that Mr M made lewd comments, blew in her ear, grabbed her waist and wrists, and bit her shoulder. She first raised the matter informally with her line manager, the head chef Mr B, and later filed a written complaint in July 2021. The hotel's management, including a company director, monitored the situation for nearly four months, then decided that Mr M, aged 66, should retire or leave. Harty was told he had left, but no action was taken against him. The tribunal found the hotel's lack of a full investigation and failure to protect Harty constituted gender‑based discrimination, and ordered the compensation.
Ryanair was found by the Workplace Relations Commission to have unfairly treated flight ops officer Gary Howard, who was made redundant during the Covid‑19 lockdown. The airline had denied Howard a €2,500 bonus that was paid to his colleagues, and the tribunal described this as a "double punishment." The commission ordered Ryanair to pay the bonus in addition to a €5,000 award for unfair dismissal. Howard's redundancy was deemed legitimate, but the airline's handling of the process was "careless and unfair," as Howard was not fully informed about the criteria that led to his selection. Ryanair argued that Howard had no contractual right to the bonus and that his redundancy was justified by pandemic business circumstances. The tribunal noted that the airline used objective criteria such as length of service, punctuality, attendance and performance, and that Howard's attendance record was cited as a factor.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Alexander Owens considered a dispute between Wilson's Hospital School and evangelical teacher Enoch Burke over the school's decision to suspend and later dismiss him. Owens noted that even if procedural errors were found in the disciplinary process, he was reluctant to overturn the suspension because of Burke's alleged trespassing on school grounds. Burke, who was excluded from the courtroom, denied wrongdoing and claimed the disciplinary proceedings violated his rights, citing a school directive to use a different name and pronoun for a student. The judge rejected Burke's email criticisms, stating the teacher had been barred for contempt and would be allowed to re‑enter only after complying with the court's orders. Owens emphasized that the school's actions were justified by concerns over Burke's behaviour and potential safety risks. The case remains pending, with the school seeking further orders against the teacher.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Sophia Brennan claimed she was discriminated against when she and her husband were denied entry to KOA Kitchen of Asia in Malahide with her guide dog Tim. Brennan said the staff refused them, citing health and safety and claiming Tim was "not hygienic," and suggested leaving the dog in the yard. She described feeling humiliated and dirty. The restaurant's proprietor had previously stated that staff allergies and children's fears were concerns, but Brennan said none of this was mentioned to her that evening. The restaurant had indicated it could accommodate them if prior notice had been given, but Brennan argued she is not obliged to inform a restaurant of her guide dog. The adjudicator noted the restaurant's absence and that it had sent a "tainted apology" via correspondence, concluding a clear case of discrimination pending a final decision.
In a decision published on 30 March 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Adel Sallam's claim that he was racially discriminated against when a cashier at Aldi in Drogheda asked him to move to another checkout. Sallam, a businessman who had lived in Ireland since the 2000s, alleged that the cashier's repeated instructions and gestures were discriminatory. The tribunal found no evidence of racial discrimination, noting that the cashier's actions were consistent with normal store procedures and that the complainant had not made any reference to race. The adjudicator concluded that the alleged poor customer service was a trivial matter and that equality law should not be used to address such complaints. The case was therefore dismissed without further hearing.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) issued a recommendation in a dispute involving an addiction counsellor, identified as Mr X, and his line manager, Manager C. The WRC described the case as "extraordinary," noting that the worker's pay rises were held up for years due to a power struggle between two managers. Mr X, a psychiatric nurse working as an addiction counsellor since 2017, claimed an acting-up allowance for senior duties. Manager C, an assistant director of nursing, opposed the payment, while a senior manager, Manager A, overruled her decision and ordered Mr X's return to his post in July 2020. Manager C subsequently lodged a grievance against Manager A. The WRC found that Manager C's resistance to the approved payment was rejected at every stage. Adjudicating Officer Janet Hughes recommended that Manager C accept the appeal officer's decision, sign the necessary paperwork, and bring closure to the matter. The WRC highlighted that the employer allowed Manager C's grievance to stall payment for work done, resulting in €30,000 in arrears for Mr X. The Commission stated that the worker was "caught in the middle" of a dispute he did not instigate and had been severely penalised. The employer, a public sector healthcare provider, did not appear for the hearing following two adjournments. The WRC emphasized that any issues with vacancy approval were entirely of the employer's making.
A security company was ordered to pay €8,500 to a guard who claimed she was sexually harassed by a colleague, Mr K, and then denied information about the outcome of a company investigation. The guard, who had recently started work at an industrial site, reported repeated unwanted verbal, non‑verbal and physical conduct, including Mr K rubbing her back and telling her she was beautiful, and later pressing her in an explicit way and suggesting they go somewhere quiet together. She said she was pressured to forgive him and move on after an informal meeting. The company launched a formal investigation but kept the outcome confidential, which the guard said made her feel not taken seriously. The Workplace Relations Commission found the guard had suffered discrimination on the basis of gender and ordered the company to compensate her for the effects of that discrimination.
The Workplace Relations Commission found that Andrea Bandacchino, an ice‑cream parlour worker at Gino's Gelato, was not an "artisan" who could dictate his own breaks. The commission awarded him €1,320 in compensation after determining that the employer, C&C Retail Ltd, had denied him legally required 30‑minute shift breaks on four days between 12 November 2021 and 12 January 2022, and had failed to provide a written statement of employment terms. Bandacchino had presented clock‑in records showing he worked six hours at a time without being allowed a break. The HR director of the company argued that the worker could dictate his own breaks, a claim rejected by the tribunal. The commission upheld the complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, awarding €440 for the denied breaks and €880 for the missing written statement.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for former Fianna Fáil councillor Thomas 'Eddie' Mulligan, allowing him to write off more than €4.4 million in debt while retaining his family home. Mulligan, 55, contributed just over €9,000 to creditors and fees for the arrangement. He had served on Waterford City and County Council from 2014 until his resignation in August 2022 and had run unsuccessfully for Fianna Fáil in the 2020 General Election. The court heard that his financial difficulties stemmed from the 2008 recession, when he borrowed money and gave personal guarantees for loans used to invest in property assets. Those assets, including retail and commercial units, lost value and rental income fell, leading to a need to sell them to repay debts. Mulligan's main creditors are Pepper Finance, Everyday Finance DAC, Bank of Ireland, and a local Credit Union. He entered insolvency and engaged Personal Insolvency Practitioner Mitchell O'Brien.
The Workplace Relations Commission adjourned a hearing into Stephen Hanley's unfair dismissal claim against PBR Restaurants Ltd, the operator of the Fish Shack chain, after the parties reported progress toward an agreement. Adjudicating officer Aideen Collard granted a two-week period for re-entry before closing the file, noting the need to curtail legal costs. This development followed the WRC's decision upholding David Hanley's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, ordering the firm to pay €20,000 in compensation. This award brings the total compensation orders against the company to €50,000, following an earlier €30,000 award to Philip Hanley. The Hanley family, including founder Pádraic Hanley, alleged they were unfairly dismissed in a "sham" redundancy process after the business was bought out of examinership in late 2019. The company argued the dismissals were procedurally fair and driven by genuine redundancy needs due to restaurant closures and the pandemic. Adjudicators in both upheld cases noted concerns regarding the independence of the post-redundancy appeals mechanism, specifically that the HR firm involved was linked to Peninsula Business Services. Michael Kinsley BL, representing Stephen Hanley, stated the parties had an "outline of agreement" and hoped to resolve the matter without further tribunal appearances. Gavin Cumiskey of Peninsula Business Services confirmed the employer's position on the adjournment.
A senior High Court judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, praised a new pre‑trial protocol aimed at reducing litigation against the HSE over the assessment of children with special needs. The protocol, which he described as a "sensible way to proceed", requires applicants to send a pre‑litigation letter to the HSE within seven weeks of a decision they wish to challenge, and the HSE must respond within 14 days. The letter must contain all relevant information about the child and the basis for the complaint. If the matter can be resolved, the HSE should state the proposed resolution in clear terms. Mr Justice Meenan has previously called for a system to curb the rising number of judicial review actions, noting a dramatic increase in cases, averaging seven to eight per week. He welcomed the protocol but clarified it is not a mandatory court rule.
A High Court case brought by a student with ADHD, ASD and anxiety, represented by her mother, challenged a secondary school's refusal to grant her an exemption from studying Irish. The student had applied for an exemption under the Department of Education Circular 'Exemption from the Study of Irish', but the school's board of management denied it, citing that she did not meet the criteria in place when the case began in late 2021. The student's mother argued that the denial deprived her daughter of an appropriate education and infringed her constitutional rights, citing the psychological impact of learning Irish. The action sought declarations that the circular unlawfully interfered with the student's rights and that the school's policy was irrational, unreasonable and unconstitutional. On 22 March 2023, Mr Justice Charles Meenan was informed that the case had been resolved in favour of the student following out‑of‑court talks, and the proceedings could be struck out.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner to stop the unilateral imposition of a new rostering schedule for its 2,500 members. AGSI argues that the proposed roster, intended to replace the Covid‑19 contingency arrangement, would worsen members' health, safety and family life by reducing free days and increasing fatigue. The current Covid‑19 roster, which required four days on of 12 hours followed by four days off, is set to expire in October. AGSI claims the Commissioner has failed to reach an agreement and may impose a new roster without its consent, breaching EU law and the legitimate expectation of its members. The court has granted AGSI permission to serve notice of the injunction proceedings, with the matter returnable next Tuesday.
In a High Court case, a shareholder of Hears Technology Limited alleges that entertainer John Bishop terminated all staff contracts on 24 June while attending Glastonbury, and ended the company's lease in County Kilkenny, actions Bishop denies. Bishop's solicitor says employment law was followed and redundancies were forced by BAK Holdings Limited's attempts to scuttle the firm. BAK claims Bishop's conduct is oppressive, seeking a declaration and compensation or purchase of BAK's 42.5 % shareholding. Hears, which also claims BAK and director Brendan Morrissey defrauded it of about €1 million, has denied the fraud allegations. The dispute involves two sets of proceedings before the High Court, one for oppression and one for alleged fraud, with the judge adjourned the matter for a month to allow a stay application. The case remains pending.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Work Web West Ltd, trading as Employability Mayo, to pay Ashling Kempton €1,436.32 in unpaid wages. The adjudicating officer found that the organization unlawfully cut Ms. Kempton's weekly pay by €30.56 for 47 weeks between January and December last year. This decision upholds both of Ms. Kempton's complaints, marking the second successful claim against the employer on this issue in six months, bringing her total recovery to €2,231.14. The tribunal determined that annual salary increments were part of her contract, based on a scale approved by the now-disbanded FÁS in 2008. The employer argued it was caught in the middle of a funding shortfall because the Department of Social Protection refused to recognize salary commitments previously made by FÁS. The adjudicating officer noted that while the department stated remuneration was a matter for the employer, all funding was provided by the state. The officer expressed sympathy for the non-profit organization's predicament but ruled the pay cut unlawful. Ms. Kempton, represented by the Siptu Workers' Rights Centre, stated she was the only employee affected by the cut. The employer's coordinator confirmed that political representations to the minister had failed to secure the necessary funds.
A former G4S salesman, Eamonn Young, claimed a company culture of not deducting benefit‑in‑kind (BIK) for company cars, and that he was warned it would "ruin it for everyone" if he raised the issue. Young said he noticed the absence of BIK deductions on his €37,000 car when he started in November 2018, and that a colleague told him not to mention it. He alleged that G4S unlawfully deducted €7,347 from his final pay when he resigned, claiming the deduction was made without his agreement. The Workplace Relations Commission hearing found G4S had made a "substantial payment" to Revenue after discovering employees had accrued BIK liabilities. The adjudicator criticised the company's late submissions and demanded evidence of payments to Revenue, noting the tribunal would decide on the legality of the deduction in writing later in the year.
Four speed‑van operators claimed they were denied shift breaks because they had to constantly monitor camera systems. Their union representative argued that the vans lacked toilets or canteens and that tight scheduling left no time for lunch or welfare breaks. The operators, Niall Walsh, Tony Roche, Richard Free and Kevin O'Brien, filed complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Workplace Relations Commission tribunal rejected the claims. In the hearing, Mr Walsh testified that he had to monitor weather conditions to adjust photo clarity, making a 15‑minute break impossible, and that he tried to take breaks between surveillance sessions but found it extremely difficult. The company's barrister, Kevin Bell, noted that operators were not required to watch weather conditions and that speed detections were carried out by the apparatus. The company's general manager, Pat McGuire, said operators only had to occasionally check the equipment and that technology took over once set up.
Martin Joyce, 42, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a nurse on 29 October 2020 while he was a voluntary inpatient at a Dublin psychiatric hospital. He was heavily medicated for a misdiagnosed schizophrenia, later re‑diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder. The assault occurred around 11 pm after Joyce had been transferred to the main ward. The nurse described Joyce staring at her, grabbing her breasts, sliding his hands down to her bottom, and then lunging at her. She activated her alarm and escaped along the corridor. Joyce later admitted the offence, expressed remorse and was found guilty. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed a fully suspended sentence, ordered Joyce to be of good behaviour for one year and to comply with Probation Services supervision. He also noted Joyce's previous seven convictions, including assault, malicious damage and failure to comply with Garda directions.
A businessman and his wife from Lisheenbrawn, Swinford, County Mayo, have obtained a temporary High Court injunction preventing a mortgage company and a receiver from selling their property. James Murphy and Caroline Hannon initiated High Court proceedings against receiver Hilary Larkin and Start Mortgages DAC, who sought to dispose of the house. The couple claim the receiver lacks valid authority to possess or sell the property they co-own. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted the interim injunction on an ex-parte basis on Wednesday, restraining the defendants from selling, transferring, or disposing of the property. The couple, represented by Darach MacNamara BL, acquired the property in 2002 and intend it eventually to serve as a home for their daughter, who has Down Syndrome, autism, and dyspraxia. Mr Murphy claims legal issues surround the receiver's appointment in October 2021 and questions whether those who appointed her held proper authority. The defendants allegedly declined to provide identifying details of the authorising officers. The case was adjourned to early the following week.