The next stage in the controversial dismissal of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) director general Prof Philip Nolan is about to play out in the High Court, when the embattled State agency will attempt to justify its decision. Nolan’s lawyers contend there was “no conceivable justification” for his firing “in the most egregious fashion” and fair procedures were not applied. The State-funded research agency announced on Tuesday, May 28th, that Prof Nolan was no longer its director general and that a new acting head had been appointed.
Nolan lodged a High Court application to prevent his dismissal on May 30th, and that is due to return to the High Court on Tuesday. Counsel for the SFI said in a previous hearing the “only basis” for terminating his employment was by reference to the “express terms” of his written contract. The board decided it was “not going down the road of invoking disciplinary proceedings”.
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