Higgins v Coleman and Anor (Approved) [2025] IEHC 757 (15 December 2025)

Higgins v Coleman and Anor (Approved) [2025] IEHC 757 (15 December 2025)

The plaintiff failed to establish a fair issue or strong case that the disciplinary procedure was tainted by bias, was retaliatory, or that the bullying and harassment procedure should have taken precedence. The disciplinary process is not so irremediably flawed as to warrant interlocutory relief, and the least risk of injustice requires that the process be allowed to continue.

Citation
[2025] IEHC 757
Parties
Plaintiff: Khimji; Defendant: University College Dublin
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Judgment Date
15 December 2025
Procedural Posture
Interlocutory Injunction Application / High Court Judgment on Application for Injunctive Relief
Outcome
Application for injunctive relief refused
Legal Topics
Injunctive Relief, Student Discipline, Bias in Decision Making, Retaliation, Procedural Fairness
Administrative Law Education Law Injunctive Relief Student Discipline Bias in Decision Making Retaliation Procedural Fairness

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Parties

Khimji

Plaintiff

University College Dublin

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Interlocutory Injunction Application / High Court Judgment on Application for Injunctive Relief

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the disciplinary procedure is tainted by bias
  2. 2 Whether the disciplinary procedure was invoked in retaliation for complaints
  3. 3 Whether the university's bullying and harassment procedure should have taken precedence

Ratio Decidendi

The plaintiff failed to establish a fair issue or strong case that the disciplinary procedure was tainted by bias, was retaliatory, or that the bullying and harassment procedure should have taken precedence. The disciplinary process is not so irremediably flawed as to warrant interlocutory relief, and the least risk of injustice requires that the process be allowed to continue.

Court Disposition

Application for injunctive relief refused

Orders

  • Reliefs sought by the plaintiff are refused
  • Disciplinary procedure may proceed