Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 27 JUNE 2017

Disciplinary Procedures And Claims For Bullying And Harassment

Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
Contributor
Dillon Eustace

Dillon Eustace

Dillon Eustace is one of Ireland’s leading law firms focusing on asset management and investment...

View firm profile
Explore more from Dillon Eustace

The case of Ruffley v The Board of Management of Saint Anne's School [2017] IESC 33 is a personal injuries claim for bullying arising from a disciplinary process...

IrelandEmployment and HR
John Doyle
John Doyle
Elaine Healy
Elaine Healy
Author LinkedIn connections

Ruffley v The Board of Management of Saint Anne's School

"At some level this novel case will set a benchmark for all bullying claims."

The Supreme Court has dismissed a claim for bullying and harassment and has deemed an unfair disciplinary process not to be sufficient to amount to bullying.

Proceedings

The case of Ruffley v The Board of Management of Saint Anne's School [2017] IESC 33 is a personal injuries claim for bullying arising from a disciplinary process to which the plaintiff had been subjected by her employer. The High Court found that the disciplinary process was so defective as to constitute bullying and awarded the plaintiff damages totalling €255,276.39, including awards in respect of psychiatric injuries and loss of earnings both past and future. The decision was overturned on appeal in a majority decision of the Court of Appeal and that decision was then appealed to the Supreme Court which imposed a partial stay on the High Court award and

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Neurodivergence And Reasonable Accommodation: What Employers Need To Know

Employers face growing challenges in supporting neurodivergent employees, with up to 20% of the global population potentially affected by conditions like ASD, ADHD, and dyslexia. Irish law mandates reasonable accommodations under the Employment Equality Acts, but what constitutes appropriate measures and when does the burden become disproportionate? Recent case law reveals the narrow interpretation of employer defenses and the significant financial consequences of failing to properly assess and implement wo
IrelandEmployment and HR
RDJ LLP
RDJ LLP
Article

The Future Of Hybrid Work: Balancing Flexibility & Productivity

As Ireland's large employers increasingly mandate fixed office attendance days, new research reveals how hybrid working is evolving from unrestricted flexibility toward more structured models. With productivity concerns driving policy changes and three-day office weeks emerging as the standard, businesses face the challenge of balancing operational needs with employee wellbeing and retention priorities.
IrelandEmployment and HR
William Fry LLP
William Fry LLP
Article

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Performance Management Or Exit Option?

Irish employers are increasingly exploring the 'PIP or Go' model as an alternative to traditional performance management processes, offering underperforming employees a choice between entering a formal performance improvement plan or accepting an exit package. While this approach can expedite internal processes and reduce administrative burden, it carries significant legal risks including constructive dismissal claims, discrimination allegations, and potential challenges to subsequent dismissal procedures.
IrelandEmployment and HR
Matheson
Matheson
Article

Irish Budget 2027: Key Tax Measures For The Financial Services Industry

Ireland's Budget 2027 introduces a lower exit tax rate for fund investors, clearer rules for Irish ETFs, and a new Retail Investment Account, while leaving the controversial eight-year deemed disposal rule unchanged. The package also includes Pillar Two updates, interest relief reforms, and a capital gains tax reduction, offering targeted refinements for the financial services sector rather than the fundamental reform many had anticipated.
IrelandTax
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
Article

CIMA’S New AML Audit Rules Effective 18 September 2026 And What Investment Funds Need To Know

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority has introduced sweeping changes to anti-money laundering audit requirements for investment funds, mandating independent audits of entire compliance programmes by September 2026. This marks a fundamental departure from previous practice where internal AML officers could conduct their own testing, raising critical questions about implementation timelines, qualified auditor availability, and compliance costs for funds operating in the jurisdiction.
Cayman IslandsWealth Management
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
Article

AMLD6 And Beneficial Ownership Central Registers: New Access Rules In Ireland

Ireland has introduced significant amendments to its beneficial ownership registers in 2026, implementing the Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD6) framework. These reforms fundamentally restructure access rights to the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts and Corporate Entities, moving away from unrestricted public access toward a tiered system that balances transparency with privacy rights while maintaining accessibility for legitimate anti-money laundering purposes.
IrelandCorporate/Commercial Law
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
Article

SFDR 2.0 Trialogue Negotiations: Key Areas Of Focus For Fund Managers

The European Commission's proposed overhaul of the SFDR regime is entering crucial trialogue negotiations, with the Irish Presidency aiming to reach agreement by year-end. While the Council and Parliament have aligned on key issues like professional investor opt-outs, significant divergences remain on exclusion criteria for Transition funds, PAI reporting requirements, and engagement strategy disclosures that will shape the future of sustainable finance regulation.
European UnionFinance and Banking
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace