Ciara Walsh v Maap Childcare Ltd t/a Tots Creche and Daycare [2026]
Decision Number: ADJ-00058536 Legal Body: Workplace Relations Commission
Published on: 08/10/2026
Article Authors The main content of this article was provided by the following authors.
Patrick Barrett BL Barrister-at-Law
Patrick Barrett BL Barrister-at-Law
Patrick barrett case reviews

The Bar of Ireland

Orchard Way, Killarney V93Y9W9.
DX: 51010 Killarney 
Tel: (087) 4361270

Patrick's legal education is robust, beginning with a BCL Law Degree from University College Cork (2012-2016), followed by an LL.M in Business Law from the same institution (2016-2017), and culminating in a Barrister-at-Law Degree from The Honorable Society of King’s Inns in Dublin (2019-2021). He has extensive experience on the South-West Circuit, handling Civil, Family, and Criminal Law cases, as well as advising the Citizen Advice Service.  He has worked as an employment consultant, dealing with workplace investigations and bankruptcy procedures.

Complainant:
Ciara Walsh
Respondent:
Maap Childcare Ltd, t/a Tots Creche and Daycare
Summary

Failure to investigate grievances justified employee’s constructive dismissal.

Background

The Complainant maintained that she had been constructively dismissed when she resigned in April 2025. She had joined the Respondent in August 2020 and received several promotions. She alleged that her manager disclosed confidential medical information, pressured her to return after surgery and made offensive comments about her appearance. She also claimed that inadequate training, understaffing and insufficient managerial support left her overwhelmed in increasingly demanding roles. She said informal complaints had failed to resolve matters and that she repeatedly requested a formal investigation. Despite providing written concerns and attending a meeting with HR, she maintained that management continued to favour informal discussions. She alleged that personal friendships compromised management’s

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Disclaimer The information in this article is provided as part of Legal Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article. This article is correct at 08/10/2026
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