The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Derrin Group Management Limited to pay former CEO Conor Gilligan €125,581.94 for unfair dismissal and €57,844.28 over unpaid notice wages. The decision, dated 25 February 2026, upheld both complaints.
The company summarily dismissed Gilligan for alleged gross misconduct. He said he had raised concerns about cash flow, payments to a shareholder and unpaid VAT, then faced three misconduct charges without an investigation or a chance to respond. The company denied unfair dismissal and argued that Gilligan contributed to it and had not sufficiently mitigated his losses. The adjudication officer found no substantial grounds for dismissal and no fair opportunity to answer the charges; the dismissal was substantively and procedurally unfair. The officer also found the company had not followed its disciplinary procedure and that six months’ notice wages were properly payable.