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. 2797Employment dispute (civil – suspension/administrative leave) · Co. Limerick · 19 Dec 2022

UHL chief clinical director returns to role after High Court dispute over suspension

Prof Brian Lenehan, chief clinical director of University Hospital Limerick, will return to his role and participate in a disciplinary process after a High Court dispute over his suspension following the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston in December 2022 was resolved. Ms Justice Siobhán Stack noted the 'terrible tragedy' of Ms Johnston's death in the background of the employment case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 Dec
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said he did not take the decision lightly to put the UHL clinical director on administrative leave (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Brian Lenehan was put on leave pending an investigation for alleged serious misconduct (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe misconduct relates to circumstances surrounding the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan denies any misconduct and says the decision was reached without any actual conduct on his part having been identified (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe claims the action was in breach of his contract and should be void in law (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is seeking to be reinstated as UHL clinical director (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe HSE maintain that its decision was lawful (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan has been told he can return to work as an orthopaedic surgeon pending the investigation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAoife Johnston was a Leaving Cert student from Shannon, Co Clare (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe died two days after presenting at the UHL emergency department with symptoms of suspected sepsis (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe was left for more than 13 hours without antibiotics (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHer family settled High Court actions against the HSE over her death earlier in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLorna Lynch SC said the matter could involve potential significant reputational damage for the consultant (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan's counsel said the decision was not one a reasonable decision maker would reach (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Brian Lenehan will return to his position as chief clinical director of UHL until his contract ends in June 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan will participate in a disciplinary process brought against him (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan had sought an injunction over an HSE decision to put him on paid administrative leave (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan denied any wrongdoing and said the decision was in breach of his contract (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe HSE claimed its decision was lawful (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Ward asked the court to strike out the proceedings with 75% of Prof Lenehan's legal costs paid by the HSE (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe disciplinary process arose from Prof Lenehan being placed on administrative leave in September by HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster (irishtimes.com)
  • whatProf Lenehan was permitted to return to work as an orthopaedic consultant pending the investigation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAoife Johnston, 16, a Leaving Cert student from Shannon, Co Clare, died two days after presenting at UHL emergency department (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMs Johnston spent more than 13 hours on a trolley before medication that could have saved her life was administered (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA report by retired chief justice Frank Clarke found her death was almost certainly avoidable (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe HSE chief executive placed Prof Lenehan on administrative leave due to belief that continuation in his role may give rise to immediate and serious risk to patient safety (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAoife Johnston died on 19 December 2022 from meningitis (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe case had been running since Tuesday and was resolved on Friday 6 December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMs Johnston was sent to UHL by her GP on 17 December 2022 with a diagnosis of suspected sepsis (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case is before Ms Justice Siobhán Stack in the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Siobhán Stack presided over the case (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Dec2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    UHL chief clinical director to return to role and partake in disciplinary process, High Court hears

    Reports the resolution of the High Court case: Prof Lenehan returns to his role until June 2025 and will participate in a disciplinary process; HSE to pay 75% of his legal costs. Details the circumstances of Aoife Johnston's death at UHL and the Frank Clarke investigation finding her death 'almost certainly avoidable'.

    accused, Brian Lenehan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Lenehanvictim, Aoife Johnston, 16, female, irish (judged from name)Aoife Johnston
  2. 4 Dec2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    HSE chief weighed decision to place University Hospital Limerick clinical director on leave, court hears

    Reports on the second day of the injunction application, with HSE chief Bernard Gloster's affidavit and arguments from both sides before Ms Justice Siobhán Stack.

    victim, Aoife Johnston, 16, female, irish (judged from name)Aoife Johnstonsuspect, Brian Lenehan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Lenehan