Cara Jane Walsh BL

Based in Cork, but with a nationwide reach, Cara Jane has a mixed civil law practice.  She is instructed by solicitors to advise clients on contentious and non-contentious matters and to also appear for clients at all levels of the Irish courts and in statutory tribunals.

Employment Law 

Committee Member of the Employment Bar Association

A specialist in the arena of unfair dismissals, redundancy, employment equality and protected disclosures.

Acts for both employees and employers of all sizes before the Courts, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.

Tort & Personal Injury

Advises & appears in a range of tort disputes including personal injury, negligence, medical negligence, trespass and nuisance.

Acchl Limited T/a Homesavers v 
Darrell Donnelly Labour Court February 2025 HSD256

Counsel for the Appellant Employer, instructed by O’Donnell McKenna Solicitors to prosecute an appeal pursuant to the Safety Health & Welfare at Work Acts

A Complainant v
Board of Management of a Named National School January 2025 ADJ-00046022

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by RDJ LLP to defend complaints pursuant to Employment Equality Acts

Edwin Barry v PFH Technology Group Limited January 2025 ADJ-00040899

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by RDJ LLP to defend a complaint of constructive dismissal pursuant to the Unfair Dismissals Acts

Kim Parkes v Scoil Ursula Preschool January 2025 ADJ-00050130

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by RDJ LLP to defend a complaint of  pursuant to the Unfair Dismissals Acts, which was successfully defeated at preliminary application stage

Robert Lee v
Sunday’s Well Life Centre t/a Cork Life Centre August 2024 ADJ-00049456

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by RDJ LLP to defend complaints pursuant to Terms of Employment (Information) Act, & IR (Misc. Provisions) Act

Stephen Walsh v Marymount University Hospital and Hospice (WRC -ADJ-00047194)

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by RDJ LLP to defend an Unfair Dismissals Claim

An Employee v A Tech Company (Circuit Court December 2023 – Counsel for the Defendant): Advices and representation provided to an Employer who was issued with an application for an interlocutory injunction and damages. This action was compromised in a full and final settlement agreement subject to confidential terms.

Brian Dumigan v Jadehall Limited (In Receivership) t/a Murray’s Super-Valu(WRC – ADJ-00041930)

Counsel for the Respondent Employer, instructed by McCann Fitzgerald LLP to defend a Payment of Wages Claim & Terms of Employment (Information) Claim

An Employee v A Medical Clinic (Circuit Court July 2023 – Counsel for the Defendant): Advices and representation provided to an Employer who was issued with an application for an interlocutory injunction and damages for alleged whistle blower dismissal pursuant to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. This action was compromised in a full and final settlement agreement subject to confidential terms.

An Employee v A Construction Company (WRC July 2023 – Counsel for the Applicant): Advices, written submissions &  virtual & in-person representation provided to an employee who had been caused to constructively dismiss himself from his employment. The claim for unfair dismissal was compromised following a full day’s hearing on favourable terms to the Complainant.

An Employee v A Pharmaceutical Company (WRC July 2023 – Counsel for the Respondent): Advices and representation provided to a Pharmaceutical Company in an action consisting of a claim under Employment Equality legislation before the WRC. This claim was negotiated to settlement the terms of which are confidential.

Employment Bar Association Annual Conference November 2024

Navigating  Workplace Investigations: Crucial Steps & Potential Pitfalls

Employment Bar Association Cork Conference May 2024

Summary of the Supreme Court decision in Mallon v The Minister for Justice

Irish Institute of CPD December 2023

Penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Acts

Employment Bar Association Legal Update May 2023

Show me the money – A review of recent awards in the Employment Sphere

Online Webinars

April 2023 Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 

April 2023 Protected Disclosures Amendment Act 2022 – Impact on Employers

For many years Cara Jane has provided legal advice on a pro bono basis to clients of the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) via their Employment Law Specialist phone clinic.

She was a FLAC Ambassador for 2023 and was the recipient of the Golden Pin Award in recognition of her volunteering work

Cara Jane has significant experience in acting as an independent investigator in workplace disputes and she produces robust and well-reasoned reports containing her findings.

Regularly engaged by employers of various sizes, including multinational companies, state bodies and third-level institutions, to conduct processes under their internal policies. Her experience includes conducting sexual harassment, protected disclosures and bullying and harassment investigations.

She has conducted parallel investigations made by several complainants and has experience conducting complex processes for parties at the Senior Executive level.

Further, she regularly conducts Disciplinary & Appeal Hearings pursuant to institutions internal policies.