Solicitor Ammi Burke challenges Arthur Cox dismissal in Labour Court
Ammi Burke, a solicitor from Castlebar, Co Mayo, was summarily dismissed by Arthur Cox Solicitors of Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, on 12 November 2019 following a dispute over a lunch invitation email sent by senior partner Gráinne Hennessy in January 2019. Burke received an ex gratia payment of €70,000 and previously challenged the dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission, which led to two judicial reviews. She is now on her third challenge, bringing the case to the Labour Court in October 2026, where Arthur Cox's barrister Peter Ward argued Burke was solely to blame for damage to her reputation. The Labour Court hearing, which heard evidence from Hennessy and managing partner Geoff Moore, continues on Tuesday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Oct
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Burke was summarily dismissed by Arthur Cox Solicitors on 12 November 2019 following a dispute over a lunch invitation email.
- On 14 January 2019, senior partner Gráinne Hennessy sent a two-line email at 6.27pm inviting Burke to a lunch, and Burke reportedly went on a frantic rant and stood over Hennessy's desk in a physically intimidatory manner.
- Managing partner Geoff Moore met with senior partners and HR on 9 November 2019 and made the decision to summarily dismiss Burke.
- Where
- Arthur Cox Solicitors is based at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, and Burke is from Castlebar, Co Mayo.
- When
- Burke began as a trainee solicitor in May 2016, became a solicitor with the banking practice group in November 2018, and was dismissed on 12 November 2019.
- Other details
- Hennessy resolved not to work with Burke again but did not raise the matter with HR.
- An ex gratia payment of €70,000 was made to Burke.
- In court
- Burke previously challenged the dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission, which led to two judicial reviews.
- Burke is now on her third challenge, bringing the unfair dismissal case to the Labour Court in October 2026.
- At the Labour Court hearing on 12 and 13 October 2026, Arthur Cox's barrister Peter Ward argued Burke was solely to blame for damage to her reputation, and evidence was heard from Hennessy and Moore.
- The Labour Court hearing continues on Tuesday, 14 October 2026.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWithin five minutes Burke was standing over Hennessy's desk in a physically intimidatory manner (irishtimes.com)
- whereBurke is from Castlebar, Co Mayo (irishtimes.com)
- whereArthur Cox Solicitors is based at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 (irishtimes.com)
- whenBurke was dismissed in November 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- whenBurke began as a trainee solicitor in May 2016 (irishtimes.com)
- whenBurke became a solicitor with the banking practice group in November 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- whenBurke was dismissed on 12 November 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- whenBurke was dismissed by Arthur Cox in November 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- whenGráinne Hennessy sent a lunch email invitation on 14 January 2019 to two new associates (irishtimes.com)
- whenHennessy sent a two-line email to Burke at 6.27pm inviting her to the lunch (irishtimes.com)
- whenMoore met with senior partners and HR on 9 November 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- otherBurke is on her third challenge to the dismissal (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe had previously taken cases at the Workplace Relations Commission (irishtimes.com)
- otherTwo judicial reviews arose from the WRC cases (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Labour Court hearing continues on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe had previously taken cases at the WRC and there were two judicial reviews (irishtimes.com)
- otherHennessy resolved not to work with Burke again but did not raise it with HR (irishtimes.com)
- otherManaging partner Geoff Moore made the decision to summarily dismiss Burke (irishtimes.com)
- otherAn ex gratia payment of €70,000 was made to Burke (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Oct2026Solicitor Ammi Burke went on ‘frantic rant’ over lunch invite email, court hears
Labour Court hears evidence from senior partner Gráinne Hennessy about a January 2019 lunch email incident and from managing partner Geoff Moore about the November 2019 dismissal decision, including a €70,000 ex gratia payment. The case continues.
victim, Ammi Burke, female, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke - 12 Oct2026Ammi Burke to blame for damage to her reputation since Arthur Cox dismissal, court told
Reports on the Labour Court hearing where Arthur Cox's barrister Peter Ward argued Burke was solely to blame for damage to her reputation, and Burke claimed her dismissal was procedurally unfair. The hearing continues on Tuesday.
victim, Ammi Burke, female, irish (judged from name)Ammi Burke