Ousted State agency boss ordered not to name third parties after reference to alleged blackmail attempt by senator

A former chief executive of Inland Fisheries Ireland has told the Workplace Relations Commission that he was pressured to reinstate a suspended employee and later faced interference in a recruitment process, allegedly involving a senator. Francis O'Donnell, dismissed last summer after four-and-a-half years in post, is pursuing claims of whistleblower penalisation and unfair dismissal at hearings in Dublin. He has alleged that in September 2022 he reported to gardaí that he was being blackmailed over the suspension decision. Mr O'Donnell also contended that the same senator attempted to block a promotional opportunity for an individual he described as a key witness in an ongoing garda investigation into alleged fraud. The tribunal heard that a protected disclosure was made against him containing allegations including claims he misused State resources. Mr O'Donnell denies these allegations. The adjudicator has directed that he refrain from naming individuals not on notice they would be mentioned in evidence. Proceedings continue in June.