The High Court has refused to order the State to intervene in the case of a father who has alleged that the Polish state "abducted" his daughter after the child's mother took her there without his consent. The man, who cannot be named, has been separated from his daughter for 750 days and described the period as "horrific and frightening". He had sought orders from the High Court directing the Irish State to assist in the location of his child in Poland and for her safe return. A court in Poland has previously ordered the child's return to Ireland and the Polish Supreme Court later dismissed an action by the Polish child ombudsman opposing that order. However, the ombudsman then filed an "extraordinary complaint" against the order, which could cause further delay to the missing child's return. The father, who represented himself, took the action against the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The child's mother took the girl to Poland in March 2024 without his consent.
A County Donegal hair salon supplier has been ordered to pay €106,000 to a former salesman following a Workplace Relations Commission ruling that found age and disability discrimination. Damien O'Doherty, who had worked for FM Salon Supplies Ltd for 22 years, was awarded €53,000 for each of two separate breaches of the Employment Equality Act 1998. The adjudication officer found that the company's refusal to comply with an earlier order for unpaid wages constituted a discriminatory act. The dispute arose in 2023 when Mr O'Doherty discovered a younger colleague received a more favourable commission package. After disclosing a mental health disability to his employer in an attempt to resolve the matter, he was subjected to abusive language and derogatory remarks about his condition. The respondent company presented no direct evidence to rebut the discrimination allegations. The tribunal determined that the employer's conduct caused significant deterioration in Mr O'Doherty's mental health.
A worker at a primary school in Dublin was told not to discuss an oven fire that led to the evacuation of hundreds of pupils, a tribunal heard. The incident occurred in 2024 when the fire alarm was triggered by newly-installed ovens, prompting the school to be evacuated twice in one week. The worker, Ashley Staunton, reported the fire to the principal and vice-principal, but was later told by the regional manager not to discuss the incident. The company, The Lunch Bag Ltd, argued that the principals did not want the fire to deter parents from using the hot meals service. Staunton, who has claustrophobia, was reassigned to a smaller space, which she found distressing. She was eventually dismissed, and her legal team argued that her condition was exacerbated by the lack of fire safety training. The tribunal heard that the fire was caused by incorrect loading of the oven, but no performance issues were documented against Staunton.
Four trainee gardaí have been granted permission to challenge their dismissals following an incident at the Garda College in Templemore, where they were accused of handcuffing a fellow student. The trainees, Rory Callaghan, David Hanley, Alan Kenny, and Darragh O'Connell, claim the incident was consensual and part of a light-hearted exercise. They argue that they were not given proper notice of the disciplinary meeting and were not afforded the right to cross-examine their accuser or challenge the decision to suspend their training. The trainees claim that the Garda Commissioner acted unlawfully by failing to apply fair procedures and that the decision to terminate their contracts was based on inadequate consideration of their training history and positive attributes. The High Court granted leave for judicial review, and the matter has been adjourned to May for further proceedings. The trainees deny allegations of inappropriate force and resistance from the handcuffed student, emphasizing that the exercise was consensual and part of a training scenario.
The head of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Audrey Cahill, has denied in the strongest terms that she made remarks suggesting that two civil servants who campaigned for a pay increase would never get an interview while she was in charge, a witness has told a tribunal. The claimant, WRC adjudication officer Séamus Clinton, is pursuing complaints under several employment equality laws, alleging discrimination, victimisation, and penalisation. A central issue in the case is that Mr Clinton was not shortlisted for a regional manager position in the WRC's mediation division, despite applying. Ms Cahill chaired the interview panel that rejected his application. A data disclosure revealed that five men and five women applied, but only one man and three women were ultimately appointed. The tribunal heard that a colleague allegedly overheard Ms Cahill saying that neither Mr Clinton nor another adjudication officer would ever get another interview or job in the WRC while she was director-general. However, Ms Cahill denies making such remarks.
A former paramedic with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has alleged that she was victimised and forced to resign after making a complaint that she was groped by a male colleague. Rebecca Rigney claims that a supervisor told her not to report the incident, warning that it would ruin her career. When she did make a formal complaint, she says she was harassed and that a witness she intended to call was approached by the accused to request a character reference. She was denied access to witness statements and important documents, and after two-and-a-half years without resolution, she felt compelled to resign. The HSE denies the claims, stating that Ms Rigney has not provided a prima facie case for her employer to answer. They acknowledged delays due to the pandemic but denied any discrimination or victimisation. An internal investigation rejected her groping allegation three years after her initial complaint and six months after her resignation. The supervisor she accused denied any such conversation took place.
A veteran HR manager at a Galway hotel has won €63,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal following a 'poorly judged' remark about a colleague's divorce. John Gannon, who had worked at the Imperial Hotel for over three decades, was sacked in November 2023 after a disciplinary meeting. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that while Gannon made an inappropriate comment about deputy general manager Donnacha Roche's divorce, the hotel failed to follow fair procedures. Multiple witnesses testified about the incident, which occurred in the hotel's lobby in October 2023. Gannon denied making the remark and claimed he was not given proper opportunity to respond before being dismissed. The WRC adjudicator, Louise Boyle, ruled that Gannon was 10% responsible for the dismissal but emphasized the hotel's failure to apply fair procedures. The hotel's CEO, Gabriel Reynolds, was criticized for not confirming the reasons for the dismissal.
A son of multi-millionaire hotelier Noel O'Callaghan has submitted papers to the High Court, expressing deep regret over telling his father that if he had a gun, he would shoot him during a heated business dispute. The court has reserved its decision on whether the dispute between Mr O'Callaghan and his sons should proceed to arbitration. Paul O'Callaghan claims there has been a significant deterioration in his relationship with his father since August 2024, despite efforts to resolve the matter through mediation. He recounts an incident in September 2025, where, after a long and tense exchange, he made the comment in frustration. He later regretted the remark and reached a memorandum of understanding with his father, which the latter allegedly reneged on. The dispute stems from a 2016 agreement, under which Noel O'Callaghan stepped back from his hospitality business to focus on his bloodstock operations, leaving management to his sons. He claims he was promised an annual salary, credit card expenses covered, and control over Mountarmstrong stud, none of which materialised.
The High Court is hearing a motion on whether the case of businessman and hotelier Noel O'Callaghan, who claims that his sons excluded him from retaking control of his business, should go to arbitration. O'Callaghan (75) stepped back from the hospitality business he built over 40 years in 2016. He claims that his sons Paul and Charles O'Callaghan, Saira Company Dublin, and subsidiary company Sherborough Development Company, have attempted to exercise control over his bloodstock business without his consent. He alleges that there was a failure to disclose that KBC was negotiating the surrender of its lease on the Archers Building, which was sold for €16.6m, constituting an alleged material non-disclosure and secret profit. O'Callaghan claims that the 2024 arbitration clause is not operative and of no legal effect as he was never told of its existence and had been misled by his sons. The arbitration motion was brought by the defendants, which they say is facilitated by a clause in the 2024 agreement. The hearing continues tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy.
A video editor at RTÉ has lost a €360,000 employment rights claim after a ruling that she failed to establish in evidence that she was an employee during the relevant period. Maebh Keary di Lucia claimed she was misclassified as a contractor when she started shifts in 2004 to 2011, which led to her being denied pay-related statutory entitlements and a long-service allowance. She pointed to determinations by the Department of Social Protection, the Social Welfare Appeals Office, and the Revenue Commissioners that she had been an employee prior to receiving a contract of employment in 2011. RTÉ's lawyers said the WRC had no jurisdiction to rule on the case due to time limits in the Workplace Relations Act. Ms Keary di Lucia said she was being denied her rights under EU directives. The LRC decided it had no jurisdiction, and she said she became very stressed and her hair began to fall out.
A cybersecurity worker, Cian Ó Laoi, is pursuing claims of whistleblower penalisation and constructive dismissal against his former employer, Edgescan, after he raised concerns about an Israeli company having access to the firm's servers. Ó Laoi recorded a meeting where he was reprimanded for making remarks about the Israeli tech sector and the "genocide of the Palestinians." He claims he had a "moral and professional obligation" to raise these concerns. The company disputes the claims, arguing that the access issue was not within Ó Laoi's pay grade. During a disciplinary meeting, Ó Laoi was told he was engaging in "tinfoil hat stuff" and that his comments were "unacceptable." He maintains that his communication was protected and that his concerns were about supply chain risks related to Israeli military intelligence. The case is continuing before adjudicator Penelope McGrath, with the tribunal considering whether Ó Laoi's actions were protected disclosures or inappropriate rhetoric.
Computer engineer Cian Ó Laoi told the Workplace Relations Commission that Edgescan reprimanded him after he raised concerns about a tech firm with Israeli links having high-level access to its servers. He is pursuing claims of whistleblower penalisation and constructive dismissal against BCC Risk Advisory Ltd, trading as Edgescan. The company is contesting the complaints, and the hearing before adjudication officer Penelope McGrath was adjourned until Monday.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Nical Engineering Ltd to pay refrigeration technician Nathan Collins €1,650 in unpaid wages. Nical said it had a counter-debt claim after a company van was recovered from outside Collins's address under garda supervision, but adjudicator Penelope McGrath ruled that wages could not be withheld. McGrath said the use of garda resources to recover the vehicle was unacceptable.
Law Society director Antoinette Moriarty says legal professionals' approach to counselling and wellbeing support has undergone a sea change, but the profession's structure still needs review. She said heavy workloads, difficult case material and corporate demands can contribute to burnout and vicarious trauma. Moriarty also said around 90 per cent of trainees using the Law Society counselling service are psychologically, emotionally and mentally well.
The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed former Wilson's Hospital School head of facilities Siobhan Rogers' complaint of whistleblower penalisation. Rogers said she reported alleged financial and governance irregularities, including suspected fraudulent timesheets, use of a fuel card and weak data controls. Adjudicator Brian Dolan found that she had made numerous protected disclosures but had not shown that she suffered a detriment.
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Xerotech founder and chief executive Dr Barry Flannery €420,172 after upholding his complaint of constructive dismissal. Flannery said the company cut off his systems and physical access before he resigned in December 2024. Adjudication officer Breiffni O'Neill found the actions completely undermined the employment relationship and ordered loss-of-earnings compensation through June 2027; Xerotech entered voluntary liquidation in February 2025.
The Workplace Relations Commission directed Madhu Foods Limited, trading as Guru Indian Cuisine, to pay Vasantkumar Barot €79,213.72 after his employer entered no defence to his employment-rights complaints. Barot said he paid €15,000 for a work permit and worked more than 90 hours a week, with average hourly pay of €1.61 in 2024. Adjudicator Brian Dalton made awards for wage arrears and working-time breaches, and found that an inference of racial harassment had been raised and not rebutted.
The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Alan O'Connor's discriminatory-dismissal complaint against Byrne and King Meats Ltd, trading as Dempsey and Byrne Craft Butchers, after finding that no dismissal took place. The adjudicator accepted that the employer had genuine safety and insurance concerns and was seeking a safe and insurable pathway back to work. It nevertheless directed payment of €9,711.15 for unlawful deduction of wages and other employment-rights breaches.
Fashion design tutor Sharon Darcy alleged that safety concerns at Project Fashion included children tripping over extension leads and needles going through their fingers. She says she was constructively dismissed after workplace grievances were not resolved and a promised pay rise was disputed. Project Fashion disputes her complaint. The adjudication officer closed the hearing and will issue a written decision.
The High Court has awarded legal costs to the Coimisiún na Meán against X Internet Unlimited Company, following the platform's unsuccessful application for a stay on an ongoing investigation. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter granted the costs to the commission, represented by David Fennelly SC, after it successfully defended against X's stay request. X, represented by Neil Steen SC, had sought to quash the commission's decision to refer user complaints, made under the EU's Digital Services Act, to its internal supervisory team. The judge previously refused the stay, finding that X overstated potential prejudice and understated the public interest in the orderly operation of the complaints process under the Digital Services Act and the Broadcasting Act 2009. X argued that the investigation's continuation would cause serious harm and render its judicial review moot. However, the judge ordered costs in favour of the commission, rejecting X's argument that costs should not automatically follow given the stay issue could be revisited. The substantive judicial review, in which X claims the referral was unlawful while the commission denies this, is scheduled for a two-day hearing on July 2-3. Crucially, Mr Justice Ferriter placed a stay on the costs order itself, pending the determination of the overall proceedings in July.
Solicitor Joseph McNally told the Workplace Relations Commission that staff shortages after a law-firm merger left him dealing with upset clients instead of business development. Ferrys partner Barry O'Donoghue disputed McNally's account, while Ferrys Solicitors LLP denies the alleged sham redundancy; the complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was adjourned to May.
Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator Breiffni O'Neill awarded former Lionbridge EMEA managing director Caroline O'Connell €142,984 after the company conceded unfair dismissal. He rejected Lionbridge's argument that she had failed to mitigate her losses, finding her efforts to find new work reasonable given her seniority and the relatively few openings at that level.
Nancy Doherty was awarded €20,000 after a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found she suffered disability discrimination when her marina work hours were cut. The decision rejected her complaint about the first reduction but found discrimination in the later December 2023 treatment.
At the High Court, the State successfully applied for a stay on a Carlow District Court order that had annulled compliance notices issued to Slaney Duck Eggs, operated by John Fitzgerald. The matter was adjourned to next month for hearing. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is challenging a December 2025 decision by Judge Catherine Hayden, which overturned two compliance orders blocking the sale of duck eggs due to Salmonella concerns. The Department alleges that serious public health risks were identified following inspections linked to a cluster of rare Salmonella Hesserak cases. Officials sampled three duck houses in July 2024, with five samples testing positive for Salmonella Hesserak and four for Salmonella Typhimurium. Consequently, the Department served notices prohibiting the sale or supply of the eggs. Fitzgerald appealed, arguing that the Department's sampling procedures did not strictly apply to ducks and that positive results could stem from environmental contamination rather than the farm. Judge Hayden allowed the appeal, finding the Department's internal standards were not mandatory for ducks. Today, Conor Doherty SC secured the stay, preserving the compliance notices pending the full hearing next month.
The High Court refused Nilton de Morais's attempt to obtain more than €10,000 from the State redundancy fund after his employer became insolvent. The judge held that undocumented workers are not employees under Irish law and said the claim would undermine immigration policy.
Former Google accounts strategist Eyob Van Haute told the Workplace Relations Commission that he was treated less favourably because he is black before his dismissal. Google's lawyer argued the evidence did not establish a prima facie case; the adjudicator reserved a decision on whether to hold another hearing.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Peter Charleton ordered South African horse owner Nigel Riley to pay €218,000 in outstanding fees to Linley Investment Limited, trading as Coolmore Castlehyde and Associated Stud Farms, and Coolagown Bloodstock Ltd. The court awarded €148,000 to Coolagown and €70,000 to Coolmore for the care and stud fees owed for mares kept since 2018. The judge rejected Riley's defence, describing it as uninformative and obstructive, and found that David Stack acted as Riley's agent in arranging the care and coverage of the mares. Although Riley claimed a verbal agreement existed for free care with shared profits, the court accepted Stack's evidence of a contractual arrangement, noting invoices sent to South Africa in 2018 and 2019. The judge characterized Riley's denial of the agency relationship as surprising and noted that Stack's evidence was calm and trustworthy. Riley has indicated his intention to appeal the judgments. The matter was decided at the hearing stage, with the court issuing final monetary awards against the applicant.
Edel Kelly won €22,315 in compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Bidvest Noonan (ROI) Ltd breached her employment rights. Ms Kelly, a cleaning supervisor at the Pepsi concentrate plant in Carrigaline, Co Cork, was left jobless in July 2025 when she did not transfer to the new contractor. She had been site-banned by Pepsi management in April 2025 following a dispute over a factory audit. In separate proceedings, Ms Kelly alleged that PepsiCo's Irish arm and Portfolio Concentrate Solutions UC effected a "third-party dismissal" via the site ban. PepsiCo argued she lacked standing as she was not their employee. Adjudicator Tom O'Driscoll rejected Bidvest Noonan's argument that the site ban excluded her from the transfer of undertakings. Citing EU law, he found that her employment relationship existed at the date of transfer, and her rights could not be defeated by operational imperatives. He determined that Ms Kelly was dismissed due to the contract change without consultation, breaching Regulation 10 of the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003. The award comprised seven months' pay for dismissal and four weeks' pay for failure to consult. The report details the adjudication and final award, with no adjournments recorded for the validated hearing stage.
The Workplace Relations Commission rejected printer Declan Walshe's unfair-dismissal claim against Poolville Ltd, trading as Labelcraft. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne found his relationship with colleagues and his manager was 'entirely dysfunctional', caused by his failure to manage workplace relationships with humility, and upheld the dismissal.
The Workplace Relations Commission found that Karen McVeeney was sexually harassed by a manager's remarks at an Energie Fitness Christmas party and suffered gender discrimination. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne awarded €5,500 for the breach and a further four weeks' wages for a late contractual document, bringing the company's total order to €7,612.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator recommended that an anonymised parliamentary advisor's enhanced redundancy payment be frozen after the advisor moved with an Irish politician to another parliament. The non-binding recommendation says the payment should become payable if the politician loses their seat, subject to the stated conditions.
The High Court set aside an asylum refusal after finding that the International Protection Appeals Tribunal had erred in its assessment of an Angolan man's account of his parents' deaths. Mr Justice Garrett Simons remitted the matter for reconsideration by a differently constituted panel.
Andrew O'Sullivan denied taking steps to penalise Garda whistleblower Lois West during evidence at a tribunal examining staffing and promotion decisions in the Garda Siochána Analysis Service. The case was adjourned overnight for cross-examination to continue.
Adjudicator Patsy Doyle rejected Sinead Cotter's €107,000 complaint alleging gender and family-status pay discrimination at Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery. The decision found that Brendan Collins worked on larger-scale projects and that quantity surveying was central to his higher-graded role.
The High Court granted an Irish woman and her daughter permission to challenge a refusal to issue the child an Irish passport. The woman, who is married to the New Zealand woman who gave birth to the child, submits that the refusal to recognise her as a legal parent is unconstitutional; the judicial review was adjourned to May 12.
Garda whistleblower Lois West told the Workplace Relations Commission that she suffered alleged undermining, belittling and bullying after raising concerns about homicides misclassified in Garda records and testifying to the Oireachtas. She is pursuing complaints under protected-disclosures, workplace-safety and payment-of-wages legislation; the hearing is continuing.
Former Inland Fisheries Ireland chief executive Francis O'Donnell told the Workplace Relations Commission that he reported an alleged blackmail by a senator while facing pressure over a suspended employee.
Francis O'Donnell, former CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), alleged before the Workplace Relations Commission that he was subjected to intimidation and threats by the organisation's former chairman, Fintan Gorman, following the suspension of Fintan Gorman's brother, Pat Gorman. Mr O'Donnell, who served as CEO from 2020 to 2025, filed complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, claiming he was penalised as a whistleblower and unfairly dismissed. His evidence centred on the January 2022 suspension of Pat Gorman, a district director, after a protected disclosure alleged he kept a State-owned tractor at his home and used an IFI fuel card. Mr O'Donnell stated that Fintan Gorman warned him the tractor would be his undoing and later made remarks suggesting his senior management would desert him. The complainant further alleged that board discussions regarding governance were leaked to a journalist, a personal friend of the Gorman brothers, to weaponise issues against him. He claimed the chairman threatened to make public information about him if he did not address the suspension. Adjudicator Michael MacNamee has adjourned the matter overnight. In a separate 2023 case, the WRC upheld Pat Gorman's unfair dismissal complaint against IFI but rejected his reinstatement application, finding his dismissal unreasonable despite his error in judgment regarding the tractor.
Eight Zimbabwean healthcare workers were awarded €30,420 each after a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found particularly egregious non-payment of wages by Unity Healthcare Services Ltd, following promised care jobs that never materialised.
Elon Musk's X brought a High Court challenge against Comisiún na Meán over the handling of information from user complaints and possible future systemic investigations. X applied for a stay; the Commission opposed it. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter said he would deliver his decision on the stay application the following week.
The Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a Romanian woman who was denied a carer's allowance for looking after her grandsons with serious special needs. The woman, who moved to Ireland in 2021, was refused the allowance because she was not considered an habitual resident and was deemed likely to become an unreasonable burden on the State. The case has been deemed of public importance due to its implications for EU law and the interpretation of what constitutes a worker. The woman's appeal hinges on the argument that it is unfair to deny an EU citizen the allowance when she provides 35 hours of weekly care in return for board and lodging, unlike an Irish citizen in the same situation. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case directly from the High Court, acknowledging the potential broader implications for EU citizens in Ireland.
A 4'10" creche worker who said her employer stopped rostering her because she needed a step to reach the nappy changing table has lost a workplace safety case. Rosaria Wada Fulguera Tenorio, a Bolivian national on a student visa, worked at the Dublin creche group from March to October 2024, when she said she was taken off the roster and told her workplace was "overstaffed". In her evidence, Ms Fulguera Tenorio said that because of her height, 147cm, or 4'10", she was getting back pain due to the height of the furniture in the baby room. She said she wanted to find a solution that would let her do the job, and that her previous employers had assisted her by providing "a small step" as an accommodation. Links Childcare refused the request in April 2024 on the basis it would be a trip hazard. Instead, her employer ordered her to stop changing nappies and have her colleagues do it instead. Ms Fulguera Tenorio said this led to tension with her co-workers and that she was left feeling "humiliated".
TikTok has been granted permission by the High Court to redact sensitive information from confidential documents used in its appeal against a €530 million fine imposed by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) over Chinese access to user data. The court heard that both parties had agreed on categories of information to be redacted, which included commercially, technically, and financially sensitive details. The appeal involves 6,000 pages of documentation, and the redactions are intended to protect TikTok from competitive and security risks. The DPC has been granted the right to apply to the court if they have future objections to the redactions. The court has maintained a stay on the fine, with the appeal set to proceed on March 3. The DPC's fine was based on the company's failure to prevent Chinese engineers from accessing user data, despite assurances that data from the European Economic Area is not stored in China. TikTok argues that the DPC breached fair procedures in its decision and failed to consider key evidence.
A Concern call centre manager, Lee Caluan, who claimed that bullying and harassment complaints against him were due to a 'Gen Z/woke alliance' at work, has lost a legal challenge to his sacking. Caluan told a tribunal that junior staff had 'turned the tables' on him due to a dislike of his management style, and that the complaints were 'riddled with inconsistencies'. He admitted to calling a colleague a 'b***h' during a workplace probe into bullying and harassment complaints from three different workers. His complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against Concern Worldwide was dismissed by the employment tribunal. Brian Joyce of IBEC, representing the charity, stated that the June 2024 dismissal followed a 'full and fair investigation'. An investigation concluded that Caluan had committed 'gross misconduct' for several breaches of the code of conduct and had violated the bullying and harassment policy. The probe followed a formal complaint in August 2023 from three telemarketing executives. An investigation manager noted that Caluan 'did not wish to engage' in the probe and 'declined any further investigations'.
A deaf man was awarded €40,000 in compensation after being denied a job interview due to a lack of an academic qualification in Irish Sign Language (ISL). The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was ruled to have indirectly discriminated against Noel O'Connell, who is a fluent ISL speaker and holds a PhD in deaf education. The tribunal found that requiring an academic qualification in ISL was discriminatory as it effectively excluded deaf people from the position. The NCSE had initially rejected O'Connell's application, stating he did not have the required qualification, despite being a native ISL user. A senior civil servant later reviewed the decision and found that O'Connell met the requirements, but the recruitment process had already closed. The tribunal ruled in favor of O'Connell, noting that the requirement for a formal academic qualification in ISL was a condition that disproportionately disadvantaged deaf applicants. The €13,000 compensation cap under Irish law was overturned, and the tribunal awarded €40,000 for the breach of the Employment Equality Act.
A software salesman who was dismissed from his high-paying job and later resorted to fast food deliveries has lost his case against his former employer, Solarwinds Software Europe DAC, over alleged retaliation for reporting corruption. Ali Izzy was fired in 2024 after revoking a €500,000 discount on a software deal with the Saudi Arabian government, which he claimed was part of a corrupt side deal. His complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 were dismissed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The tribunal found that while Izzy had a reasonable belief in wrongdoing, his actions in blocking the deal constituted misconduct, justifying his dismissal. Izzy alleged that his former boss, Abdul Rehman, had a history of corruption and had attempted to bribe him. However, Rehman denied these claims, and the WRC did not rule on the truth of Izzy's allegations. The tribunal concluded that Izzy's actions were not protected under whistleblower laws and that his dismissal was not retaliatory.
Meta and WhatsApp have been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the €12 million levy imposed on them by Coimisiún na Meán. The companies argue that the commission's calculation of the levy lacks transparency, particularly regarding how the supervisory fee payable to the European Commission under the Digital Services Act was taken into account. Meta and WhatsApp claim they were not provided with any explanation of how the total amount was calculated and were only issued with invoices instead of appropriate notices. The companies are seeking an order to quash the statutory instrument under which the levy was issued and a declaration that the commission acted unlawfully and beyond its power. The applicants argue that the commission has a discretion to impose a levy but must provide transparency on incurred levies. The case was adjourned to April for further proceedings. The companies claim that the levy imposed on them collectively amounts to €12,921,438 and that they had no way to verify the correct formula used in calculating the levy.
A retired detective has expressed shock at discovering a Garda in the bedroom of a woman's apartment during a search warrant execution in a burglary investigation. Sinead Warren, who lived in Dublin 8 in 2016, alleges that gardaí falsely branded her as a 'major criminal' and a 'serious female gouger' in WhatsApp messages. She is seeking damages for breach of her constitutional rights, negligence, and deceit. The High Court is hearing her case against the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, the Minister for Justice, and the Attorney General. Ms Warren and Det Gda Joseph Kavanagh are described as 'law-abiding citizens of impeccable character.' The search was for a pair of yellow shorts linked to the burglary, and the presence of Det Gda Kavanagh in the bedroom was unexpected. Det Gda Mark Kelly, who was present during the search, stated he was shocked and felt obliged to inform his superior. Ms Warren's barrister questioned the inclusion of personal details in the search report, including the names of her deceased brothers.
A financial advisor, Natasza Korajda, and her daughter-in-law, Natalia Koziol, were unfairly dismissed by Stephen Hamilton Financial Services after their employer discovered they were planning to launch a rival business, according to a tribunal ruling. Ms Korajda had joined the company in 2013 as a JobBridge intern and later became a top performer, earning a six-figure salary. In 2023, she and Ms Koziol set up their own firm, NK Capital Partners Ltd, and registered the business name 'Get Mortgage,' but did not start trading immediately as they needed Central Bank approval. Ms Korajda intended to seek regulatory approval before discussing the plans with her employer. However, the Central Bank contacted Mr Hamilton shortly after, leading to a change in his stance. He initially took a conciliatory approach but later demanded their resignations or faced disciplinary action. The employees were suspended and threatened legal action if their access to systems was not restored. Mr Hamilton argued that the dismissals were necessary due to concerns about client information and competition.
A cleaning supervisor, Edel Kelly, has been left jobless after being banned from a PepsiCo factory in Carrigaline, Cork, following a dispute over hygiene. Kelly, who worked for Mount Charles, a contract cleaning firm, was banned in April 2025 after flies were found during an audit. She claimed the audit was not properly explained to her and that the site ban was unjustified. Kelly had worked at the factory for three years and said there were no prior issues with her team's work. She argued that the site ban effectively ended her employment as Mount Charles had no alternative roles for her in Belfast. Kelly is also pursuing a separate complaint under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003, alleging that Bidvest Noonan, the new cleaning contractor, breached the regulations by refusing to transfer her into its employment. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing heard that PepsiCo's human resources lead confirmed Kelly was an employee of Mount Charles and that she had no appeal process with Pepsi to clear her name.