Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2136Breach of Protection of Employment Act, 1977 (failure to consult workers' representatives) · Co. Dublin · 9 Apr 2020

High Court overturns Labour Court decision on Debenhams redundancy payments

Mr Justice Anthony Barr at the High Court overturned a Labour Court decision that had found Debenhams should pay €1,140 to shop assistant Jane Crowe for breach of its consultation obligations under the Protection of Employment Act, 1977, when the company went into voluntary liquidation in April 2020. The case was a test case for 792 other former Debenhams workers.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenDebenhams Retail Ireland announced voluntary liquidation in April 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe liquidation happened at the height of the first Covid-19 lockdown. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court overturned a Labour Court decision on Debenhams redundancy payments. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Anthony Barr reversed the Labour Court decision. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Labour Court upheld the €1,140 award on appeal by the Debenhams liquidators. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe liquidators appealed to the High Court on a point of law and Mr Justice Barr allowed the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge found a letter from a Debenhams director on 14 April 2020 constituted the start of the consultation process. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge held there was no evidence Ms Crowe suffered financial loss or additional distress due to the delay. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe case was a test case for 792 other former workers. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWorkers picketed outside stores seeking four weeks of redundancy pay per year of service for more than a year. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said had directors allowed the company to continue trading, they would have been guilty of fraudulent or reckless trading. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    High Court overturns Labour Court decision on Debenhams redundancy payments

    The High Court found the Labour Court erred in law, holding that a letter dated 14 April 2020 constituted the start of the consultation process, and that no financial loss or additional distress was proven by Ms Crowe due to the delay.

    victim, Jane Crowe, female, irish (judged from name)Jane Crowe