High Court Reporters The High Court has halted the dismissal of Prof Philip Nolan as director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) after hearing he has been “so grievously wronged”. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy said he was satisfied Prof Nolan made out a strong case that is likely to succeed at trial such that he should make orders preventing his dismissal until the matter returns on Friday afternoon. SFI was not in court when the application was made on Thursday but is to be notified so it can respond to the claims on Friday.
Lawyers for Prof Nolan submitted there was “no conceivable justification” for Prof Nolan’s summary dismissal “in the most egregious fashion” last Monday night. The State-funded research agency announced on Tuesday morning that Prof Nolan was no longer director general and that a new acting head had been appointed. The SFI board had been due to consider the findings of an investigation into five misconduct allegations made by senior staff members against Prof Nolan.
He has vehemently denied the claims. Padraic Lyons SC, instructed by Daniel Spring & Co Solicitors, told the court on Thursday that his client “emphatically” rejects inappropriate behaviour and throughout all his time in public service was never before the subject of workplace complaints. The probe into the protected disclosures led to no findings of bullying, the court heard.
Instead, the investigation report refers to inappropriate behaviour for which there may be a case.
