Contractor challenges dismissal over 'f**k off' remark to Aer Lingus employee in High Court
Colm Dunne, a man from Co Louth, is an IT systems engineer working for ESP Global Services Ltd at Dublin Airport. In the early hours of 27 January 2025, during a night shift, he allegedly told a male Aer Lingus customer service employee to 'f**k off' while working at self-service check-in kiosks. He was suspended on pay on 31 January and dismissed with immediate effect for gross misconduct at a hearing on 7 February 2025. In the High Court, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted short-term injunctive orders restraining ESP from giving effect to the dismissal, and on 1 April 2025 adjourned the matter for one week for ESP to file a replying affidavit, saying he would be keen to hear the case before the Easter break.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court31 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Colm Dunne, an IT systems engineer for ESP Global Services Ltd, allegedly told a male Aer Lingus customer service employee to 'f**k off' while working at self-service check-in kiosks.
- Dunne was suspended on pay on 31 January, the investigation concluded on 4 February, and he was dismissed with immediate effect for gross misconduct at a hearing on 7 February 2025.
- Dunne has worked at ESP since October 2021 with an unblemished disciplinary record.
- The Aer Lingus employee raised a formal complaint to Collins Aerospace, which manages the airport on behalf of the Dublin Airport Authority.
- Dunne's offer to apologise to the Aer Lingus employee in person was turned down.
- Where
- The interaction took place at the self-service flight check-in kiosks at Dublin Airport.
- When
- The incident occurred in the early hours of 27 January 2025 towards the end of Dunne's night shift.
- In court
- In the High Court, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted short-term injunctive orders restraining ESP from taking any steps to give effect to the purported dismissal.
- On 1 April 2025 the judge adjourned the matter for one week to allow ESP to file a replying affidavit and said he would be keen to hear the case before the Easter break.
- Other details
- Conor Power SC is acting for Dunne, instructed by Feran & Co solicitors.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDunne was tending to another faulty kiosk at the time of the interaction (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Aer Lingus employee raised a formal complaint regarding the interaction (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne's offer to apologise to the Aer Lingus employee in person was turned down (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne has worked at ESP since October 2021 and has an unblemished disciplinary record before the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatColm Dunne is an IT systems engineer working for ESP Global Services Ltd at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne was fixing a printer in a kiosk when the Aer Lingus employee approached him about another faulty kiosk. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Aer Lingus employee was a male member of the customer service team. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Aer Lingus worker complained to Collins Aerospace, which manages the airport on behalf of the Dublin Airport Authority. (irishtimes.com)
- whatESP suspended Dunne on pay and held a gross misconduct hearing via Microsoft Teams on 7 February 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne was dismissed with immediate effect for gross misconduct. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne had an unblemished record with ESP since starting work in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe interaction took place at the self service flight check-in kiosks at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- whenOn 4 February, Dunne was told the investigation had concluded (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 27 January 2025 towards the end of Dunne's night shift. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan granted short-term injunctive orders including that ESP restrain from giving effect to the dismissal (irishtimes.com)
- courtConor Power SC is acting for Mr Dunne, instructed by Feran & Co solicitors (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case returns to court the week of 31 March 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Brian Cregan restrained ESP from taking any steps to give effect to the purported dismissal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge adjourned the matter for one week to allow ESP to file a replying affidavit. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said he would be very keen to have the matter heard before the courts break for Easter. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Apr2025Contractor allegedly fired over telling Aer Lingus employee to ‘f**k off’ to get early High Court hearing
Reports that Mr Justice Brian Cregan adjourned the matter for one week to allow ESP to file a replying affidavit, and expressed his intention to hear the case before the Easter break. Also notes that Dunne had not been reinstated pending the proceedings.
victim, Colm Dunne, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Dunne - 31 Mar2025Dublin Airport contractor fired after telling Aer Lingus employee to ‘f**k off’, court hears
Provides detailed timeline of the disciplinary process (suspension 31 Jan, investigation concluded 4 Feb, dismissal at hearing 7 Feb, job re-advertised 12 Feb), confirms Dunne has worked at ESP since October 2021 with an unblemished record, identifies his solicitor (Conor Power SC, Feran & Co), and notes the case returns to court this week.
victim, Colm Dunne, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Dunne