The Special Criminal Court heard mitigation submissions for eight defendants who pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew. The court heard that the Dubai-based organisers considered crew members Jamie Harbron and Vitaliy Lapa "completely expendable" after their vessel, the Castlemore, ran aground. Harbron and Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Defence counsel argued that the defendants were hired for specific roles, were not the leaders of the enterprise, and relied on their guilty pleas and foreign imprisonment as mitigation. Harbron, the only defendant with prior convictions, was described as being on the "lowest rung" of the operation. Counsel for others highlighted their good character and financial vulnerabilities. The court, comprising Ms Justice Melanie Greally, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone, will deliver sentences on July 4.
In a 2025 ruling, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected a discrimination claim by chef Serhat Aksakal against the Odeon Bar and Restaurant in Dublin. Aksakal alleged that a senior employee, Mr Z, thrust his genital area into him and made a "yee‑haw" noise, describing the act as having "undeniable sexual overtones." The WRC found the incident did not occur in a workplace where sexual harassment was tolerated. Aksakal had used ChatGPT to draft his complaint, and the tribunal noted the language used must accurately reflect the events. Mr Z was dismissed the month after the incident, and the company had already rectified a separate claim of unpaid tips. The commission upheld the dismissal and dismissed the discrimination claim, while acknowledging the claim under the Payment of Wages Act was well‑founded but had been remedied.
James Fuery, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after customs officers at Dublin Airport seized €404,520 of cannabis in a suitcase he had brought from Ibiza. The drugs, weighing just under 22.5 kg, were found in 45 vacuum‑sealed packets. Fuery claimed he was under pressure from a €15,000 drug debt and that this was his first time bringing drugs into the country. He described difficulties with cocaine and cannabis, a relapse into addiction, and previous homelessness due to addiction. He has eight prior convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences but none for drug offences. The court accepted his early guilty plea, noted his cooperation and lack of wealth, and remanded him in custody while ordering a urine analysis. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 7 July.
In a High Court hearing on 3 June 2025, Mr Justice Garret Simons considered whether to lift a suspension on 15 boating permits for ferries to and from Skellig Michael, a UNESCO heritage island. The permits had been withheld while a judicial review of the Office of Public Works' (OPW) tendering process was pending. Two companies that lost the 2025 season tender—Skellig Michael Boat Trips and Atlantic Endeavour Limited—had challenged the OPW's decision, arguing the process was deficient and lacked transparency. The OPW claimed that Irish and EU law prevented it from issuing permits until the legal dispute was resolved. Mr Justice Simons expressed surprise at the OPW's claim that preparing the case would take six months, describing the matter as "the most straightforward case of competition for licences". He ordered the case to be heard next month, gave it top priority, and said he would rule on Thursday whether to lift the suspension.
In a High Court hearing on 30 May 2025, Susan Magnier, wife of billionaire John Magnier, supported her husband's claim that a €15 million purchase of a 751‑acre tract in County Tipperary had been agreed at a kitchen‑table meeting on 22 August 2023 at the Coolmore estate. She testified that the sellers, represented by estate agent John Stokes, moved to another room to contact trustees and a beneficiary before returning to accept the offer. The Magniers allege that the deal was later abandoned in favour of a higher €22.25 million offer from New York developer Maurice Regan, who they say used a "full‑frontal assault" to undermine the agreement. The defendants deny any agreement, claiming they required trustee consent and ultimately sold to Regan. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Max Barrett next week.
Robert Ward, 30, of Walker Grove, Parkside, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, appeared before Tallaght District Court after a drunken outburst on 6 October 2024. The incident occurred near the N81 in Tallaght, shortly after a League of Ireland match at Tallaght Stadium. Ward, who had been filming a bus that had stalled with passengers inside, shouted a profanity at Gardaí and ran into oncoming traffic. He was heavily intoxicated, threw three cans of Bulmers on the ground, and was arrested. Ward pleaded guilty to two public order offences – threatening behaviour and intoxication in a public place. He has 122 prior convictions, including traffic, theft and drug offences, and two bench warrants. At the time of the incident he was serving a five‑month suspended sentence for trespassing. Ward has two bench warrants outstanding and a history of convictions for traffic, theft, and drug offences. He has a suspended sentence for a trespassing conviction.
During a High Court hearing on 29 May 2025, John Magnier, the billionaire behind Coolmore Stud, testified that a barrister had "unfairly gone after" his good name and that he had come to court for "protection, not to be slaughtered." He argued that his reputation was essential for business and that the opposition's lawyer, Martin Hayden SC, had tried to undermine it. Magnier claimed that a failed €15 million land deal in Tipperary had been agreed with Barne Estate on 22 August 2023, with an exclusivity period until 30 September 2023, but that the estate later sold the land to Maurice Regan for €22.25 million. He alleged that the estate's representatives had misrepresented the agreement and that he had attempted to enforce the deal by suing the estate, Richard Thomson‑Moore and associated companies. The case remains before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
Three Filipino swimming instructors recruited from the Philippines to teach in Ireland had hundreds of euros a week docked from their wages for alleged "training costs" before being dismissed. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found no evidence that the swim school spent €3,000 training each worker. The instructors were hired on the promise of a better life in Ireland, but were forced to accept pay cuts or risk termination. The WRC heard that the school had paid for work permits, visas and flights, but claimed the training cost €3,000 per worker. The school relied on agreements signed in English without translation or legal advice. The WRC ruled the deductions illegal, awarded each of the three workers €2,307.68, and ordered the school to pay a total of €11,939.53 to the group. The case was heard in Ennis, Co Clare, in November and December 2024. The company and employees remain anonymised due to parallel proceedings.
David Donohoe, a builder who had worked for SJK Civils Ltd for 13 years, was dismissed in April 2024 after a dispute over working hours. He claimed the employer had asked him to start at 5.30am instead of 7am and then expected him to finish at 3pm instead of 1.30pm. Donohoe refused to work the extended hours, called the director a "sneaky rat" and left the site. The director said Donohoe was only sent away on 5 April and was formally dismissed on 19 April for gross misconduct. Donohoe's solicitor argued the dismissal process was applied retroactively. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unfair and awarded Donohoe €9,000, noting he had suffered losses of €15,977 between April and August 2024.
Vladislovas Jurevicius, a 39‑year‑old chef, was arrested in February 2024 after Gardaí discovered he had cloned fuel cards from a trucking logistics company and used them to steal an estimated €25,000 worth of diesel between August 2023 and February 2024. He pleaded guilty to possession of a card with intent to commit theft and five counts of stealing diesel at an Applegreen service station in Ballymount, as well as one count of cultivating juvenile cannabis plants at his home in Greenfield Heights, Rathwire, Co. Westmeath. Gardaí found 35 cannabis plants, two empty 200‑litre fuel barrels, and photographs of the cloned cards on Jurevicius's phone. He has no prior convictions and was described by his employer as a valuable staff member. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to October 6, allowing Jurevicius to provide additional restitution to the affected company.
In a High Court hearing on 27 May 2025, lawyers for billionaire John Magnier alleged that the Barne Estate, managed by a Jersey trust, breached an exclusivity agreement and sold 751 acres of Tipperary land to Maurice Regan for €22.5 million after Magnier claimed a €15 million deal had been struck on 22 August 2023. Magnier, his adult children John Paul and Kate, and their counsel Paul Gallagher SC presented evidence that the estate had agreed not to solicit offers from anyone other than Magnier between 31 August and 30 September 2023. The defendants denied any such agreement and said they had sold the land to Regan, who is not a party to the case. Gallagher also alleged that Regan had arranged for journalist Paul Williams to contact the estate agent, implying Regan's exclusion was unlawful. The case is expected to last three weeks.
A 16‑year‑old Transition Year student won €9,000 compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found his school's uniform rule indirectly discriminated against him on gender grounds. The rule required ear piercings to be worn in pairs, effectively allowing only one stud for girls but two for boys. The student had a single stud in his left ear, which the school deemed a breach of its code of behaviour. He was subjected to sanctions such as sitting outside the principal's office, denied leave to go to town on lunch break, and assigned to evening detention. The tribunal ruled these sanctions were disproportionate and amounted to victimisation because they arose solely from his objection to the discriminatory rule. The school was ordered to amend its policy to allow one or two earrings and to pay the compensation, to be held in trust until the student turns 18 for his education. The decision was published anonymously.
An eBay customer‑support agent, Eanna Donoghue, who had worked for the company for almost seven years, resigned on 5 March 2024 after receiving a written warning for "work avoidance" following a four‑minute period of inactivity on his computer. Donoghue claimed that personal tragedies, including a friend's death in Navan, had affected him and that the warning was unfair. He also alleged that the warning was linked to earlier grievances he had filed against managers. The Workplace Relations Commission tribunal rejected his constructive dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal found that the warning was justified, noting that any period over 60 seconds of inactivity was considered work avoidance, and that Donoghue had not raised a grievance before resigning. The decision upheld the written warning and dismissed the claim.
Seamus Behan, a former van driver for Liberties Recycling Development and Training CLG, was dismissed after a workplace row on 20 December 2023. He denies grabbing his colleague, Mr A, by the neck or calling him a "f*****", and claims he was upset by remarks about Pope John Paul. Behan says he was unaware of an earlier complaint against him until after the incident and that the company's investigation relied on selected statements and omitted CCTV footage, which he says would have shown his innocence. The company argues Behan's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, citing verbal abuse, aggression and damage to property. The Workplace Relations Commission heard both sides, with the company's manager Adam Moloney describing the altercation as "off the charts" and noting a call to Gardaí that was not answered. Behan's representative, Thomas Behan, contended that witnesses were hand‑picked and that the incident should have been resolved informally.
In a decision issued by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on 22 May 2025, adjudication officer Breiffni O'Neill dismissed six employment rights complaints filed by Maureen McHugh against her employer, the Tallaght Probation Project trading as Deonach. McHugh, a tutor earning €2,400 a month for a 19‑hour week, had alleged breaches of the Employment Equality Act 1998, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The hearing was scheduled for 9:30 am on 30 April at Lansdowne House, Dublin 4. McHugh arrived at 10 am, 30 minutes late, after having called the WRC reception at 9:30 am to explain a 10‑minute traffic delay. The officer waited until 9:50 am, then proceeded with the hearing without McHugh's evidence, noting that the employer's representative and two witnesses were present.
In a High Court civil case, former Irish Nationwide senior manager Conal Regan testified that Michael Fingleton Sr., the ex‑chief executive, allegedly issued a "get‑out‑of‑jail card" to a borrower who could not repay a €6 million loan. Regan said the borrower, who had purchased land in Meath in 2007, was told by a letter that the loan was "non‑recourse", meaning the lender could not pursue the borrower beyond the collateral. Regan could not find any documentation supporting the non‑recourse claim and expressed shock at the letter, which he said was issued at Fingleton's direction. The case, in its third week, accuses Fingleton of negligent mismanagement and speculative property dealings that led to significant losses for Irish Nationwide. The court continues to hear the matter.
Leni Shanahan, a 21‑year‑old student, resigned from Spilt Milk after months of sexual harassment by a colleague in his early 30s. She said the man repeatedly asked her out, discussed sexual experiences, made comments about her appearance, and told her she was "physically aroused" by her flirting. Shanahan also claimed the shop director, Dave Meehan, repeated a remark that the harasser would become "physically aroused" by her. She filed a complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 with the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging discrimination by the employer, LN Ice Cream Ltd. The company denied liability, said an internal investigation found no evidence to support her claims, and offered an apology. Shanahan said she had no knowledge of a harassment policy or complaint procedure and that she had not complained before resigning. The tribunal will decide on the case.
A 35‑year‑old mechanic from Dublin, Declan Daly, was sentenced at Tallaght District Court for a 2019 incident where he allegedly drove a black VW minibus without insurance. Garda Dillon O'Malley stopped him for speeding on Old Military Road, Rathfarnham, and issued a summons after he failed to produce an insurance certificate within the statutory period. The certificate that was later provided covered garage work, not private driving, and did not cover the time of the offence. Daly claimed his employer had instructed him to take the van home for an NCT test, but the vehicle was registered in his name and no supporting documentation existed. Judge Patricia McNamara, noting Daly's 24 prior convictions—including five for driving without insurance—imposed a six‑month prison sentence suspended for two years on a €200 bond, a six‑year driving disqualification, a €600 fine, and a five‑month payment deadline.
In a High Court hearing, state‑appointed director Rory O'Farrell argued that Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) operated like a merchant bank under former chief executive Michael Fingleton Sr., taking "very strong lending positions" on speculative property projects in the UK and France between 2006 and 2009. O'Farrell said these loans were unusual given the 2007 pledge to be risk‑averse amid a looming financial crisis, and that Fingleton allegedly approved them without board or credit committee approval, with no securities or personal guarantees. The civil case, brought by liquidators of the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation, seeks €290 million in damages relating to five specific loans, while total losses at INBS were estimated at €6 billion. Fingleton, aged 87 and unable to testify due to ill‑health, denies negligent mismanagement. The case remains ongoing in the High Court.
In a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, former Karen's Diner employee Carenin Rosa De Oliveira was awarded €796 for unpaid tips after six months of non‑payment. De Oliveira quit her Dublin O'Connell Street role, claiming the restaurant's tipping policy owed her money and that staff were uneasy about tip distribution. The restaurant admitted some amounts were owed but failed to show how they should be calculated. The adjudicator accepted De Oliveira's evidence, noting she could not give an exact figure but was seeking what she believed was due. This decision follows two earlier WRC orders directing Karen's Diner to pay over €1,200 to other staff for similar tip‑payment breaches. The total awarded to former staff now stands at €2,014. The chain, opened in 2024, markets itself as an interactive dining experience with "rude service" as part of the performance.
The chief executive of a veterinary business has stated that he has 'never heard of a veterinary surgeon on the dole', as a tribunal considers the case of Annie Baltz, a former clinical director who was unfairly dismissed. Ms Baltz, a qualified vet with 12 years of experience, was sacked without notice in March 2024 by CVS (Ireland) Veterinary Service No. 2 Ltd following an internal investigation into a bullying complaint. The company admitted the dismissal was procedurally flawed and has since changed its name to GVE Vets (Ireland) No. 2 Ltd. Ms Baltz is seeking compensation for lost earnings after being out of work until she took up a new role in July 2024. She argued that she was seeking jobs that allowed her to balance work with childcare responsibilities, while the company's CEO claimed she applied for roles she was unqualified for and could have mitigated her losses with locum work.
Judge James O'Donohoe criticised Gardaí for repeatedly failing to appear in court, calling the non‑appearances "just embarrassing" and noting that cases could not proceed when prosecuting officers were absent. He addressed the officers at the District Court Appeals Court after several hearings were halted earlier in the week. Gardaí explained their absences, citing lack of notification or unfollowed emails. The judge urged them to simply attend or, if unable, to give notice.
Ian Barry, 44, of Dublin 14, pleaded guilty to coercive control covering 2019‑2022. He verbally abused his wife, calling her names such as 'Adolf' and 'liar', and physically assaulted her by throwing objects, including a toilet roll, a TV remote, an office chair and a finger jab. Barry also exercised financial control, demanding she account for every penny, limiting her spending on a bank card, and insisting she use her part‑time income for groceries. He monitored her movements, using a Ring doorbell camera 32 times in one day after their separation, and observed her from a window while she worked from home. The court heard that he sometimes offered apologies but resumed abusive behaviour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a three‑year suspended term, citing mitigating factors and his good record, and warned that future harassment would lead to court action. The sentence was suspended on conditions. The victim's impact statement was not read aloud.
David Tyrell, a disabled driver exempt from tolls under the Disability Toll Exemption Scheme, filed a discrimination claim after being delayed for 1.47 minutes at a toll bridge on the M1 motorway when a camera misread his number plate. He argued that the operator's questioning of his registration and remarks about his status constituted discrimination. The operator, Louise McMullen, explained that she could only see the plate on a screen, could not see his exemption disc, and had to verify the number, which she said took a minute. She denied making any discriminatory remarks and claimed she had not told Tyrell to be "smart." The Workplace Relations Commission, after hearing the evidence, found no prohibited conduct and rejected Tyrell's Equal Status Act complaint, concluding that the delay was due to a technical issue rather than discrimination. The case remains at the tribunal stage with no further action taken.
In May 2025 the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Integrity360 Europe Ltd had breached Irish law by dismissing 67‑year‑old Helen Holland, a part‑time sales executive, after she refused an ultimatum to retire or return to full‑time work. The tribunal found the dismissal was a flagrant breach of the Protection of Employees (Part‑Time Work) Act 2001 and that age discrimination had been a factor, awarding Holland €88,800 for the breach and an additional €35,000 for discrimination, totalling €123,800. Holland had worked for the company since 2017, promoted in 2020, and had lived and worked mainly in Germany, receiving salary and taxes there. The company argued that German law applied, but the adjudicator held that Holland had chosen Irish jurisdiction and that the contract was ambiguous, so the case was heard in Ireland. The award was made on 16 May 2025.
In May 2023, Rebecca Conlon and her daughter Rachel O'Reilly were dismissed from Forenaghts Stud Farm Ltd after a verbal altercation over the euthanasia of two mares. The dispute began on 24 May when the women, who had worked there since September 2019, challenged the decision to euthanise the horses. The farm's manager, Caoimhe Doherty, had consulted a vet and other professionals before deciding to put the animals down. Conlon and O'Reilly reacted angrily, using profanity and making allegations of incompetence. The farm suspended them on 29 May and, after an external investigation, terminated their employment on 19 June, citing misconduct. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissals unfair, awarding each woman 16 weeks' wages (€9,000 for Conlon, €5,500 for O'Reilly), an additional €3,500 for a breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act in Conlon's case, and €100 for technical breaches of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act. The total compensation exceeded €18,000.
A pharmacist, Marwan Al Rahbi, has lodged a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, claiming he was constructively dismissed from his €112,000-a-year role as a senior support pharmacist at Rathgar Pharmacy Ltd., a business owned by former TD Kate O'Connell and her husband. Al Rahbi alleges that the O'Connells subjected him to a hostile work environment, describing their treatment as "working him to the death" and citing health and mental‑health concerns as reasons for his resignation. He says he raised a formal grievance in May 2024 over several incidents, but the pharmacy denied the complaints and did not address the issues. Al Rahbi also claims that the O'Connells denied him a verbal warning, instead shouting at him and refusing to allow him to speak during a review meeting.
In a tribunal hearing on 12 May 2025, Daniel Holland's claim that he was dismissed from James Whelan Butchers because of his SIPTU membership was rejected. Holland, who joined the company on 24 April 2023 and was terminated on 23 April 2024, argued that his emails to human resources accusing managers of dishonesty were the real cause. The tribunal found that the dismissal was linked to Holland's "misalignment" with the company, not his union membership. The adjudicator noted that Holland's emails were seen as damaging to the employment relationship and that the union was not a primary factor. The company's barrister described the union claim as a "retro‑fit" and highlighted Holland's lack of the required 12‑month service. The tribunal dismissed Holland's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
In the High Court's fourth day of the civil case against former Irish Nationwide Building Society chief Michael Fingleton, his lawyer, Niall Clerkin, argued that the case is plagued by "black holes" in documents and witness evidence. Clerkin said substantial tracts of paperwork are missing, including loan files for five property loans between 2006 and 2008 that IBRC claims caused €6 billion in losses but is now pursuing only €250 million in damages. He noted that Fingleton, aged 87 and ill‑health, cannot testify, and that only one senior staff member, Gary McCollum, remains to provide evidence, yet McCollum is too confused by the missing documents to give reliable testimony. Clerkin highlighted that no borrowers have been called by IBRC and that the critical triangle of Fingleton, McCollum and Tom McMenamin is incomplete. He urged the court to consider the lack of settled, factual documents before deciding on the case. The case continues at the High Court.
In a 2025 tribunal decision, Bretland Construction Ltd was ordered to pay over €10,000 to Claudia O'Connor for discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. O'Connor, a junior health and safety officer hired in May 2023, was placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) after she disclosed her pregnancy in August 2023. The firm abandoned the PIP after seven weeks and terminated her employment on 14 November 2023. The tribunal found that the company's claims of performance issues were credible but noted that O'Connor had not been warned of any problems before she reported her pregnancy. The award included €10,415 for discrimination, €873 for breaches of the Terms of Employment Information Act 1994, and €201 for unpaid annual leave under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The case was heard by adjudicator Máire Mulcahy, with Peter Dunlea representing the respondent and the Leinster Citizens Information Service representing the complainant.
The High Court case against former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton is in its third day. The civil claim, brought by liquidators for the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation, alleges that Fingleton, who ran the building society from 1971 to 2009, negligently mismanaged the lender and engaged in speculative property lending without board approval. The court heard that in 2007 Fingleton approved two loans to Laurent Properties for a casino and hotel project in the south of France, issuing a second €2.1 million loan before the board or credit committee saw it. The development never materialised and the loans were later sold at a loss. Similar "solo run" lending was alleged in a £1.75 million loan to Coast and Capital for petrol stations and a £20 million loan to Galliard (Sully) Ltd for a hospital outside Cardiff, both of which resulted in massive losses. The case continues at the High Court.
In May 2025 a 22‑year‑old man was placed under Probation Service supervision for 12 months after pleading guilty in July 2022 to one count of sexual assault of his 13‑year‑old first cousin. The man claimed he believed he was in a "love relationship" with the girl. He had contacted her via social media in June 2022, and over the following weeks their contact became sexual. He visited the girl's home in late July 2022 with her parents' consent and sexually assaulted her on four occasions that night, in a nearby park and in a car. The abuse involved inappropriate touching and kissing on the lips. After the incidents he sent apologies, but his messages became persistent and distressing, leading the girl to block and later unblock him. She disclosed the abuse to a friend and a teacher.
In a High Court hearing on 7 May 2025, Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) faced a civil case brought by the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) against former chief Michael Fingleton. The case alleges that Fingleton, who ran INBS from 1971 to 2009, approved millions of euros in commercial loans and top‑ups without board approval, including a €28 million loan for two run‑down hotels in the French Alps that lacked planning permission. IBRC claims the loans were speculative, lacked security or personal guarantees, and were approved by Fingleton before they reached the board or credit panel. The court heard that Fingleton "nodded" through approvals by phone or handwritten notes, and that a €130 million loan was later disputed as non‑recourse. IBRC is pursuing €250 million in damages from five alleged loans, while the total loss from property loans is estimated at €6 billion. The case remains ongoing.
Keelings fruit and vegetable group failed to secure a private hearing for allegations of whistleblower penalisation and multiple employment rights breaches by former warehouseman Rudolph Csikos. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Brian Dalton, rejected the request for a closed‑door hearing, stating that the possibility of certain people being named was not sufficient grounds for secrecy. Dalton noted that the law requires exceptional circumstances for a private hearing and that the case concerned the administration of justice, which must be conducted publicly. He briefly held a 25‑minute private session before reopening the hearing to the public. The matter was adjourned, with a further hearing scheduled for 27 May. The decision was made in accordance with the Workplace Relations Act, which mandates public hearings unless special circumstances justify otherwise. The case will proceed in public court.
Ger Malone, a veteran SIPTU organiser, claimed she was penalised after making protected disclosures about alleged wrongdoing in the union and local government. She alleged 30 acts of penalisation in response to 17 disclosures from February 2020 to August 2022, including criticism letters and alleged interference with her work. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) held hearings in Waterford and Carlow between April 2024 and February 2025. Adjudicator Marie Flynn found that Malone had made protected disclosures on five occasions, but rejected her claim that 12 other events constituted penalisation. The WRC excluded the first 19 allegations due to lack of time extension and judged the remaining 11 as not penalisation under the Act. The decision, published in a 76‑page document, concluded that no detriment had been suffered by Malone in the staff‑representative election or other matters. The case was heard under the law in force when Malone lodged her claim in November 2022.
The High Court has opened a civil case brought by the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) against former Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) chief executive Michael Fingleton. IBRC alleges that Mr Fingleton negligently mismanaged the society for decades, specifically regarding five property loans approved between 2006 and 2008. While IBRC estimates total property loan losses at €6 billion, it is currently pursuing €250 million in damages related to these specific loans. Mr Fingleton, who is 87 and in ill health, denies the allegations of negligent mismanagement. He is acting through his wife, Eileen Fingleton, and son, Michael Fingleton Jnr, under powers of attorney. Counsel for IBRC argued that Mr Fingleton engaged in speculative property gambles, often approving loans before board review and without adequate safeguards or independent valuations. The court heard that INBS shifted heavily toward commercial lending, a move warned against by the financial regulator. The proceedings, originally initiated in 2012, finally opened before Mr Justice Michael Quinn. The case is expected to last up to eight weeks. Mr Fingleton's son has stated that his father's assets are limited to €25,000 in bank accounts, despite outstanding judgment debts exceeding €10.7 million.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court was told that Kasonga Mbuyi, 52, who stabbed a German passenger at Dublin Airport, was acting out in a "cry for help". Mbuyi had been seen behaving erratically and was not wearing shoes. He had a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, with a history of cannabis misuse. He had been arrested on September 17, 2023, for assault causing harm and production of a pen knife. The victim suffered eight superficial wounds and required 12 stitches. Mbuyi had been homeless, living in a hostel after his Limerick accommodation was sold, and had recently been treated for a broken foot and dislocated knee. He accepted responsibility and said he was trying to get help. The case was adjourned to July, with a probation report, governor's report and urine analysis to be prepared.
In May 2025 the Workplace Relations Commission awarded Thomas Farrell €1,000 after Salesforce failed to reply within the four‑week deadline for a formal remote‑work request under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Farrell, a recruiter who had moved to the west of Ireland, had been told in June 2023 that he could work remotely and attend the office as needed. In May 2024 his line manager announced a return‑to‑office requirement of three to four days a week. Farrell filed a request on 10 June 2024 citing the unsustainability of a 550‑km daily commute, his proven remote performance and inconsistencies in Salesforce's policy. The company responded on 11 July 2024, after the deadline, and rejected the request on 26 July 2024, citing collaboration, in‑person meetings and alignment with a global hybrid strategy.
Lisa Lyons, a 36‑year‑old mother of four from Tallaght, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after a Garda search of her home on 15 November 2021. The search uncovered a handbag containing nine individual bags of cannabis (29 g) and €508 in cash. Lyons pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and unlawful possession under Section 3 of the same Act. She has six prior convictions for road‑traffic offences but no drug‑related history. Her lawyer, Ethan Foley, argued that Lyons was pressured by criminal groups to hold the drugs and had been living in fear, noting her clean record, family responsibilities, and volunteer work. The court accepted her plea and imposed a €600 fine with a seven‑month payment period, urging leniency. Lyons stated she is now a born‑again Christian and that her anxiety has improved.
In an employment tribunal case, a woman who worked as a company secretary for her partner, an alleged sex‑addicted businessman, was awarded nearly €100,000 after she was dismissed in 2023. She claimed that while on a family holiday she discovered her partner had downloaded Grindr and had seen a message from Escort Ireland on his phone. She told him she would not join a proposed treatment programme and that she intended to separate. He then terminated her employment, stopped her pay, and had her company car towed. The tribunal upheld her claims under the Unfair Dismissals Act, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act and the Organisation of Working Time Act, awarding €63,362 for loss of earnings, €30,000 for loss of the company car, €3,712 for lack of a contract, and €2,000 for working‑time violations, totalling €99,074. The decision was anonymised to protect the identities of the woman's children.
Evan Clarke, 33, borrowed a friend's car and drove it the wrong way into a Circle K car wash on 10 November 2019, causing damage worth €57,408 and writing the facility off. He drove without a licence or insurance, with three passengers in the vehicle. Clarke pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence. He has 41 prior convictions, including assault, theft and drug offences. CCTV footage identified him, and a matching fingerprint was found on the car's bonnet. His defence cited significant drug and alcohol addiction, early cannabis use, mental health issues, ADHD and ASD, and supportive parents. The case was adjourned to 21 July for updated reports.
During a sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned that teenagers are targeted by manipulative propaganda from terrorists and other dangerous elements online. He criticised those who argue for minimal internet regulation, noting the harm to children and the suffering inflicted on others. The judge spoke about a case involving a teenager who, after being exposed to radical Islamist ideology online, attempted to murder an Irish Defence Forces member. The teen, whose name is withheld due to age, attacked and stabbed army chaplain Father Paul Murphy (52) at Renmore Barracks in Galway on 15 August 2024. McDermott described the attack as "terrifying as it is extraordinary" and highlighted how vulnerable teens can be drawn to extremist content. He warned that "so‑called influencers" spread extreme political, religious or discriminatory views to children, who are easily preyed upon because of their immaturity and open access to the internet.
Dublin City Council has regained possession of the former home and shop of 1916 Rising leader Tom Clarke on Amiens Street after a group of alleged trespassers vacated the property. The High Court heard that the council had initiated proceedings last November to restrain "persons unknown" from trespassing following reports of unauthorised occupation in May. At the hearing, Gavin Mooney SC represented the council and reported that the alleged trespassers had agreed to vacate the house and had now provided their names. An inspection of the Georgian building, which dates from the 1790s, was previously adjourned due to concerns about a potential stand‑off with occupants. The council, which purchased the run‑down building for €630,000 in 2018, had planned to convert it into a museum and community centre, but works had not begun after a contractor withdrew in 2023.
Natasha Byrne, 21, was stopped for driving without a licence or insurance on 23 August 2023. She pleaded guilty under the Road Traffic Act 1961. Byrne was accompanied by her father, who had let her test drive to manage her driving anxiety, a decision the judge called "ludicrous." Judge Deirdre Gearty struck out the case, stating the father should have answered questions in court, not Byrne. Byrne has since obtained a learner permit but is not currently driving.
Daire Hardesty, a software developer at Digisure, claimed he and colleagues were unpaid for six months after the company's CFO was forced out, allegedly locking the bank accounts. Staff were told a $30 million balance was frozen and later that anti‑money‑laundering checks delayed payroll. Interim cash of €300‑€1,000 was provided, but salaries never arrived. Hardesty sold a €1,600 camera lens for €1,080 to pay rent, and the firm promised reimbursement but failed to pay. He was placed on temporary layoff on 20 November 2024 and told to "stop being disrespectful." The Workplace Relations Commission found he was not paid from May 2024 until his termination in December 2024. The adjudicator directed Digisure to pay Hardesty €46,664 in gross wages without delay, citing the company's repeated assurances and lack of evidence. The ruling was issued under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
Martin Connolly, former chief operating officer of Dundalk Town FC, was dismissed by owner Brian Ainscough on 26 February 2024 in a brief conversation that left him without notice of the club's financial difficulties. Connolly did not return to work after the dismissal and was unemployed until May 2024, when his salary stopped. He applied for several jobs before taking a temporary factory shift at Amgen in Cabinteely, earning just under €43,000 a year. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unfair, noting no substantial grounds for termination and no conduct by Connolly warranting it. The tribunal awarded him €16,667 for four months of lost salary at his former €50,000 a year role, based on the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The award also considered the damage to his reputation and job prospects caused by the public nature of the dismissal. The decision was made by adjudicator Kara Turner.
On 20 October 2023, Garda Niall McGahern stopped a car on Whitestown Way, Tallaght, after noticing the driver acting suspiciously at a traffic light. The driver, Adam Printo, 26, of Sundale Villas, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24, produced a large butcher's knife from inside the car and could not explain why he had it. He was arrested and taken to Tallaght Garda Station, where a small amount of cannabis was also found on him. Printo entered a guilty plea to a charge under Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Defence counsel Lauren Flanagan BL argued that Printo had been using the knife as a makeshift screwdriver earlier that day to fix the windscreen wipers. The court heard that Printo was employed full‑time in a warehouse, earning around €500 a week, and had no previous convictions or history of addiction. The knife was presented in court as evidence in a plastic bag.
During a video‑conference preliminary hearing on a statutory complaint by Davide Carbone against CPL Solutions Ltd trading as Covalen, a Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Máire Mulcahy, refused to order the press to shield the identity of the social media company that was the client of the subcontractor defending the claim. The request came from Covalen's advocate, IBEC employer relations executive Mark Comerford, who argued that the company was a "managed service provider for a client" and that commercial sensitivities and the lack of an employment relationship justified anonymity. Mulcahy explained that the issue of anonymising parties in WRC hearings is currently before the High Court and that the WRC must dispense justice in public. Consequently, she adjourned the hearing until the High Court decides on the extent of anonymisation, which she expects to issue within the next two months.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Deering, aged 24, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 25 September 2021 at several sites in Lucan. The case began when Gardai stopped his car for a seatbelt offence, discovered a backpack containing 100 g of cannabis and €3,900 in cash, and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his home. A search of his residence uncovered drugs valued at over €159,000 and an additional €4,000 in cash, bringing the total value of seized drugs to €161,690. Deering had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Deering's early guilty plea, imposed a three‑year prison sentence, departing from the mandatory minimum of ten years. The court noted that Deering was not on the Garda radar and that his home showed no signs of wealth.
Maria Inmaculada De La Torre Ruiz, an accountant with Hamilton UK Services Ltd, secured a €145,122 unfair dismissal award from the Workplace Relations Commission. She had worked there from 6 July 2021, earning €63,000 a year and receiving pay rises of over €15,500. Her dismissal on 27 July 2023 was "without cause" and the employer refused to give a reason, which the WRC said severely harmed her future job prospects. The award, capped at two years of total remuneration, covered salary, pension contributions, professional fees and training costs. Ms De La Torre Ruiz had lost €57,151 between dismissal and a nine‑month contract in 2024, and an additional €23,661 until the January 2025 hearing. The adjudicator estimated her prospective loss at €108,841, but limited the award to the statutory maximum of €145,122.