An adjudicator wrote that the new owner of the school, businessman Shafikul Islam, “was apparently surprised that this was not acceptable”. It was after “the revelation of significant undisclosed [or] underdeclared tax liabilities” at the company following its takeover by Mr Islam in September 2024, Mr Morris submitted. The tribunal heard Ms Nascimento Machado informed Mr Islam on 7th November 2024 that she was 25 weeks pregnant and would be taking maternity leave. Mr Morris said that his client, Mr Islam, had taken on Ms Nascimento Machado’s duties. Mr Islam chose to tackle these “large debts” by “unilaterally announcing a salary cut” and presenting the finance director with a new contract which “very substantially and adversely altered her terms”.

Source: The Irish Times January 30, 2026 20:06 UTC