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Director's High Court claim against Council

A Special Report

THE IDENTITY of the local authority staff member seeking damages from Sligo County Council is confirmed in online records for the High Court.

The plaintiff is named as Declan Breen, a senior council executive. He filed an affidavit with the Court on October 10th last, with an earlier affidavit on March 28th.  

The solicitors on record for Mr Breen is the firm of Daniel Spring & Co, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin. It has worked closely in the past with trade unions representing salaried professionals.

Most Celebrated

Its principal partner is Kerry man Donal Spring, a GAA player also capped for Ireland at rugby.

Spring most famously captained the Munster team which beat the All Blacks in 1978, the only time any Irish team has beaten New Zealand and one of the most celebrated Irish rugby occasions.

The High Court website shows that Sligo County Manager Hubert Kearns filed an affidavit for the defendant side on May 21st last.

He alluded to such a case on a number of occasions. Speaking at Sligo Borough Council last April, Mr Kearns said "We're facing a High Court action and it's not going to be cheap, I'll tell you."

The Council is represented by Sligo firm Hegarty & Armstrong. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Mr Breen's title is Director of Services, effectively one of a number of deputy County Managers.

He is recorded in Minutes as having attended meetings of both Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council.

The online records serched by Sligo Today do not contain any specifics of the statement of claim.

Securing further details usually requires a visit to the offices of the Four Courts, the website's detailed explanatory notes suggest.

The engagement of junior and senior counsel is highly likely in contested personal injury cases at High Court level.

Last Updated

Personal injuries claims often, but not always,  refer to company's practices of 'dignity at work' and their policies on the prevention of harassment and bullying in the workplace.

"Details were last updated at close of business on 17/10/2012,'' the website said earlier today.