Buncrana Man Claims He Was ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ for Inland Fisheries Ireland

WRC Proceedings and the Latest Complaint

During the fifth day of the hearing, WRC adjudicator Shay Henry stated there was “no way” he could incorporate the newly lodged complaint into the existing proceedings, noting that the tribunal needed to reach a conclusion, according to reporting by The Irish Times. Tiernan Lowey, barrister for Inland Fisheries Ireland, told the tribunal that his client was “grossly prejudiced” by the late development and intended to defend the matters in due course.

Ciaran Elders, representing Doherty, explained that the agency’s legal position had previously restricted evidence beyond the date of the initial claim. Elders noted that submitting a new claim was the only mechanism to introduce the required evidence as part of the wider penalization alleged by his client.

Protected Disclosures and the 2021 Crash

Doherty alleged he faced ostracization and penalization after submitting protected disclosures to then-Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan and senior management at Inland Fisheries Ireland. The disclosures centered on a controversy involving more than a dozen officially hired vehicles assigned to staff without valid insurance cover. In August 2021, Doherty was involved in a traffic crash while driving one of those uninsured agency vehicles.

Testifying at the hearing, Doherty stated that circumstances shifted significantly after he submitted the disclosure, which he admitted to holding onto for months beforehand. When Lowey questioned whether Doherty believed his subsequent prosecution for careless driving stemmed from questions over the vehicle’s insurance, Doherty responded that he felt there may have been outside influences. He pointed out that he received a summons just two days short of the statutory six-month deadline and questioned why Inland Fisheries Ireland was not named as a respondent in a related personal injuries claim.

Reputation Damage and Indemnification

Correspondence presented at the hearing showed Doherty writing that he felt like a “sacrificial lamb to make the legalities for IFI go away.” He criticized the agency’s handling of the aftermath, arguing that management should have made representations to the Gardaí to support a more honest approach. Doherty stated that he did not feel looked after by his employer following the collision, pointing to a letter he received that accused him of producing incorrect insurance documents.

According to Doherty, the accusation damaged his local reputation, leaving residents talking as though he had been driving without insurance. He also raised concerns about a 15-month period where he received no updates regarding the personal injuries claim before the agency ultimately informed him it would provide an indemnification. Tribunal records show Inland Fisheries Ireland paid out €204,947.27 regarding that claim. Lowey countered that the agency had assured Doherty in writing that he would remain secure in his long-term employment.

Return to Work and Covert Camera Investigation

Doherty returned to work in February 2024 following a period marked by mental health struggles, but claimed the penalization resumed immediately. The tribunal previously heard in June that Doherty faced an internal investigation over allegations that he deployed covert cameras at a location in County Donegal in violation of agency policy. Doherty maintained that a superior ordered the placement of the cameras and two other staff members installed them, yet he was the only employee subjected to an investigation.

Reflecting on his 15-year career with the organization, Doherty stated that he loved his job but felt treated like an outcast following his disclosures to former chief executive Francis O’Donnell. The Workplace Relations Commission hearing into the matter continues.