Finance chief takes action against Cork council to prevent role transfer

Cork City Council finance director has taken a High Court injunction against the council to reinstate him to his position after he was told he was being transferred to a newly created role

It is understood John Hallahan was told in May by the council’s chief executive, Valerie O’Sullivan, that he was being replaced as head of finance and was being moved to a newly created cost transformation office.

The finance director of Cork City Council has taken a High Court injunction against the local authority to prevent his being transferred to another position.

John Hallahan was first appointed head of finance at the council about a decade ago. 

It is understood Mr Hallahan was told in May by the council’s chief executive, Valerie O’Sullivan, that he was being replaced as head of finance and was being moved to a newly created cost transformation office.

He then took an ex parte injunction against the council to force it to reinstate his position as head of finance.

The case is to be heard in the High Court on July 28.

For more than a decade, Mr Hallahan has been part of Cork City Council’s finance committee.

Asked about Mr Hallahan’s ex parte injunction, a council spokesperson said: “The city council has no comment to make, at this time”.

Mr Hallahan did not respond when asked for a comment.