WRC rejects former Defence Forces member’s protected-disclosure complaint

A WRC adjudication officer found Patrick Gorman’s protected-disclosure complaint against the Defence Forces, Air Corps, was not well founded. The decision, dated 1 October 2024, made no award. Gorman, who served in the Defence Forces from 1984 to 2019, alleged that he was penalised after making protected disclosures, including through the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces’ handling of earlier complaints. The respondent argued that the alleged actions concerned the independent Ombudsman, not the Defence Forces. The officer concluded that the central grievance concerned the Ombudsman. The Minister’s receipt of the Ombudsman’s report and failure to take further action did not amount to penalisation, and Gorman had not established a prima facie case against the respondent. A prima facie case means enough initial evidence to support a claim.