Crushell & Co l Specialist Workplace Solicitors

16/05/2026

In one of these two cases, the son (represented by Crushell & Co l Specialist Workplace Solicitors) was awarded €19,500 because his investigation opened with an ambushed, recorded meeting with no advance notice of the allegations, whereas the father's claim failed because his investigation opened by letter with the allegations and supporting documentation set out in writing... same employer, same allegations of misconduct, different solicitors, opposite outcomes turning entirely on how each investigation began.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/veteran-construction-manager-sacked-over-industrial-scale-use-of-firms-equipment-to-build-sons-house-loses-claim/a613820812.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawR1HyZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe1C6L8lZ9sJ_jI1ZJSygQ3W31MCjb4HMwasVcNUffo-DVwv0HUXzKNwa0fyo_aem_IFeh0KZ5Wwp5eQ9DVDa2wQ

A manager who was sacked after 45 years at the Murphy construction group when the firm learned its machines, staff and materials were used to build a house for his son has lost his claim for unfair dismissal.

29/04/2026

A former senior manager at a multinational pharma firm says she was told she could reassure her staff in Ireland they were “safe” when job cuts were announced – only to find her own role was on the line a week later, the WRC was told. Counsel for the complainant, Thea Kennedy, instructed by Crushell & Co, put it to Mr O’Brien in cross-examination that her client would say she was told “Ireland would be safe” when the redundancies were announced.

Senior manager lost her €90,000-a-year job after decade at firm

24/04/2026

A senior civil servant with a visual impairment has won €30,000 for disability discrimination after it took his department's IT team over a decade to give him a suitable work laptop.

Assistant principal officer Paul Hill said in a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that he was made to feel a "nuisance", a "troublemaker" and "an inconvenience" at the Department of Social Protection for seeking disability supports to help him do his work.

The Department has now been found in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998 for failure to provide Mr Hill with reasonable accommodation at work from 2012 to 2024.

A senior civil servant with a visual impairment has won €30,000 for disability discrimination after it took his department's IT team over a decade to give him a suitable work laptop.

09/04/2026

A worker has been denied compensation after claiming "significant personal distress, embarrassment and reputational damage" because her line manager attended her home when she failed to present for work.

A worker who slept through her alarm for a 7pm shift and was awakened by her boss with the help of her landlord has been denied compensation for the "distress

06/04/2026

A former facilities head, Siobhán Rogers, claimed she uncovered numerous financial and governance irregularities at Wilson’s Hospital School and reported around 20 issues, including suspected fraudulent timesheets and misuse of a school fuel card. She brought concerns about HR, data protection, banking, and compliance to the board. However, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected her claim under whistleblower protection laws, ruling against her complaint of penalisation.

A worker who alleged there were financial and governance “irregularities” at Wilson’s Hospital School – the Co Westmeath boarding school embroiled in a separate high-profile legal dispute with teacher Enoch Burke – has lost a claim for whistleblower penalisation.

30/03/2026

A legal dispute in Ireland is raising important questions about workplace culture, client service, and redundancy practices.

Solicitor Joseph McNally claims he was left in “firefighting mode” after merging his practice with Ferrys LLP—spending his time managing upset clients rather than growing the business. He alleges staff departures, linked to denied remote working requests, contributed to the pressure.

Ferrys LLP strongly denies these claims, stating there was no staffing dispute and that a fair redundancy process was followed.

The case, now before the Workplace Relations Commission, highlights the growing tension between flexible work expectations and traditional office models—especially in client-facing professions.

A solicitor made redundant less than two years after a Dublin law firm bought out his legal practice claims he was stuck "firefighting" to keep clients instead of drumming up new business because office staff were leaving after being denied remote work arrangements.

06/03/2026

Ireland’s Government has confirmed that the Workplace Relations Commission will be asked to strengthen its Code of Practice on remote working following a review of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

The review found that the legislation is working as intended, with 94% of requests for remote work approved either fully or partially. While the system is considered straightforward for employers to operate, awareness of the right to request remote work remains relatively low among employees.

The revised code is expected to provide clearer guidance for employees making applications, greater transparency from employers when decisions are made, and clearer timelines for the process, helping to further support flexible working practices across the country.

We use cookies to collect and analyse information on site performance and usage to improve and customise your experience, where applicable. View our Cookies Policy. Click Accept and continue to use our website or Manage to review and update your preferences.

26/02/2026

Crushell & Co is currently recruiting for a trainee solicitor to join our practice. The successful candidate will enjoy a competitive salary, training bursary, and a varied workload across employment law, personal injuries, data protection, and civil litigation.

This role would suit a candidate with several FE1s already completed.

Please apply per the link below or email [email protected].

Crushell & Co

26/11/2025

An interesting case that resulted in a bus driver losing their claim for unfair dismissal on foot of their refusal to participate in random alcohol/drug testing. The adjudication officer asserted that such testing was essential to maintain public safety and not unreasonable in the circumstances:

"The Complainant asked that I recognise his Constitutional right to bodily integrity, which is a concept I well understand. However, it is a well-established through judicial interpretation, that some rights might trump others depending on context. I am satisfied that the overwhelming need to keep the public (passengers, pedestrians and cyclists) safe, outweighs the Complainant’s sense of injustice that anyone would place a Q-Tip in his mouth to extract a sample."

Philip McMahon – a driver with Dublin Bus for 28 years – was dismissed for gross misconduct after his refusal to take the drugs test at the ...

07/06/2025

Thank you to the judging panel of the Irish Law Awards for the recognition of the work the Crushell & Co Team undertake on a daily basis for both employers and employees.