Latest news with #Breslin
RTÉ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Bra saleswoman wins €15,800 for constructive dismissal
A lingerie saleswoman who said she was forced to quit her job of nearly 20 years over the health impact of workplace stress due to a "toxic" work environment at a Dublin department store has won €15,800 for constructive dismissal. Karrin Breslin was awarded the sum on foot of a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against Chantelle Lingerie Ltd, the operator of a concession in the lingerie department of the unidentified store. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) awarded Ms Breslin her full losses after ruling that the international lingerie brand repudiated her contract of employment by failing to address grievances about under-staffing and rostering while her health deteriorated over the course of two years. It was submitted on behalf of Ms Breslin – an employee of the brand since 2004 – that when the department store reopened in May 2021 following the Covid-19 lockdown, her section was down to 12 staff with just two full-time, compared with 10 full-timers out of 17 pre-pandemic. The tribunal heard Ms Breslin had moved from north Co Dublin to Co Wexford during the pandemic closure. She asked at that stage to be given a set working day of 9am to 5.30pm, she said. Her employer's response was that "this was not a request that could be granted given the opening hours of the shop and the need for a fair departmental roster", the tribunal was told. The tribunal was told that the department store, rather than the lingerie brand, was responsible for setting the roster governing Ms Breslin's working hours. "I feel my mental and physical health has deteriorated… I don't have a good work/life balance and it's going to get worse due to the late closing times coming back again," she wrote. Ms Breslin's case was that her job was made "overwhelming and physically hard" because of these issues and that she began to experience anxiety, low mood, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal problems "as a result of work-related stress". Following a medical absence in June 2022, Ms Breslin again wrote to her employer and set out that because the department was so "understaffed" that sales were being lost because customers were walking out without being served. Her employer's position was this was "a commercial point and not a personal grievance". Ms Breslin had seven periods of certified medical leave between January 2022 and the summer of 2023, the tribunal heard. In an exchange of emails with her employer during her fifth period of medical leave in June 2023, Ms Breslin said she believed her illness was "work-related". "There are major obstacles stopping me from doing a good job and this has been going on for gotten far worse in the last 4 months and definitely having a negative impact on my working life due to a stressful and sometimes toxic work environment," she wrote. In responding correspondence, she was told: "I am hoping you can get to the bottom of your sickness so you feel better," the WRC heard. The tribunal heard that Ms Breslin worked her last shift on 25 June 2023 and ultimately did not return to work before she tendered her resignation on 31 October that year. Chantelle's managing director, who gave evidence, said she had assumed Ms Breslin would return to her job when she got better and that her resignation "was pleasant and made no mention of issues or other employees' behaviour". When it was put to her in cross-examination that Ms Breslin had told her she was "burned out", the managing director said she "understood there was an issue" of work-related stress but that she "did not relate this" to Ms Breslin's resignation. Asked what she had done to respond to the staffing issues raised by Ms Breslin, the managing director said these were "a matter for the shop". In her decision, adjudicator Patricia Owens wrote Ms Breslin had been raising "serious concerns for her physical and mental health" starting in October 2021. While the managing director made efforts to resolve "minor issues" for Ms Breslin around medical certs and annual leave, "more complex matters" around roster problems and staff shortages "were never addressed", Ms Owens wrote. "I consider that the respondent failed in its duty of care to the complainant to protect her health, safety and wellbeing while at work," Ms Owens wrote. She considered the firm's failure to respond adequately to amount to "repudiation of contract", upholding Ms Breslin's unfair dismissal claim. Ms Owens awarded the claimant €15,800, her full losses for five months' unemployment. A further complaint of disability discrimination under the Employment Equality Act was ruled out of time by the Commission. Ms Breslin was represented by Aisling Irish of Parker Law Solicitors in the case, while human resources consultancy Tom Smyth and Associates appeared for the employer.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scot thrown in hell hole Caribbean jail 'for forcing ill wife to go to work'
Michael Breslin is being held on remand in Puerto Rico's notorious Bayamón Correctional Complex, which is plagued by gangs and drugs and has seen crooked prison guards and escapees. A Scottish businessman is being held in a hellhole foreign prison - after he arrested over claims he tried to force his wife to go to work when she said she wasn't well. Michael Breslin and his wife live in San Juan, the capital of US territory Puerto Rico, and he was remanded in custody over domestic abuse claims on the island. The 32-year-old is being held in the Caribbean island's Bayamón Correctional Complex, which sees inmates housed based on gang affiliations and has hit the headlines over a number of incidents. As well as drug deaths and squalid conditions, the complex has also been staffed by crooked prison guards helping criminals smuggle in drugs and other contraband, and has seen a number of prisoners break free. Breslin, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, was charged with one count of battery under the predominantly Spanish speaking island's Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Act. A Policía de Puerto Rico mugshot of Breslin released after his arrest describes him as having red hair, white skin and blue eyes, and being 5ft 10ins tall. Puerto Rican daily newspaper Primera Hora reported that Breslin's partner claims he began yelling and insulting her because she didn't feel well enough to go to work, and he insisted that she leave the house. The woman decided to get into his vehicle to go to her parents' house, and when he got in too. On the way, he continued yelling at her in front of her four-year-old son, causing her to feel intimidated. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Furthermore, the incident report indicated that while he was driving along Jesús T. Piñero Avenue, his steering wheel moved and he was nearly involved in a traffic accident, so he decided to file a complaint. The evidence was presented to Judge Arelys Ortiz at a court in San Juan, who determined cause for arrest and set bail at $80,000, which he did not post. After a court hearing in connection with the case in March, Breslin was sent to Institution 705 of the Bayamón Correctional Complex, until a preliminary hearing takes place. It's understood Breslin and his wife, who is believed to be from Puerto Rico, got married over there in March 2023. His construction company, MBRESLIN LTD, was dissolved in March 2021. Government documents list his occupation as a steel erector and state the company was involved in "manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures" and "construction of bridges and tunnels". A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are supporting a British man detained in Puerto Rico and are in contact with the local authorities." The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the United Kingdom government. Between 2020 and 2022, prison deaths nearly doubled in Puerto Rico, going from 59 from 2020 to 2021, and 94 deaths between 2021 and 2022, with independent senator and physician José Vargas Vidot saying: "The increase in deaths is due to opioid overdoses". In 2021, three prison officers were charged with smuggling contraband to the jail Breslin is being held in. The contraband included mobile phones, chargers and cigarettes. Payments were made for supplying the smuggled items, which also included drugs, such as synthetic cannabis and suboxone, a medication used to treat heroin and morphine addicts. In 2017, thirteen prisoners went on the run from Bayamón after a power cut caused when Hurricane Maria hit the island allowed them to make their escape. The hurricane left the prisoners in the overcrowded jail without running water and electricity for weeks and led to a civil rights storm, bringing protests and unrest.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breslin Center Ranked Among Top College Basketball Venues
When you think of college basketball, there are just some schools that take it a bit more seriously. So, it's only natural that the teams whose home arenas are some of the best and toughest to win in also happen to be contenders year in and year out, come March Madness. So it's no wonder Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans have made 27-straight NCAA Tournaments, the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan remains one of the best venues in college basketball. Tre Holloman (No. 5 right) fires a shot during Michigan State's game against Michigan at the Breslin Center© Dale Young-Imagn Images A popular social media presence College Basketball Uncharted got people talking this week, after they released a list of the top college basketball arena atmosphere's in the country. Advertisement It should come as no surprise that the Breslin is among the Top 10 on the list. Spartan fans do not disappoint when it comes to packing the Breslin. Not to mention, they have arguably the best student section in college basketball. The Izzone is always locked in. Not to mention, they are very good at causing shot clock violations, with their reverse countdown clock. Not to mention those kids campout in the wind, rain and cold everyear to secure their spots. They are dedicated, sure Duke has the Cameron Crazies, but the Izzone is no joke. This list has Breslin sixth overall on the list. Which is the second highest of all Big Ten team's, as Purdue's Mackey Arena sits fourth on the list. Advertisement Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas and Cameron Indoor at Duke sit at the very top of the list. The rest of the Top 10 also includes Gonzaga's McCarthy Athletic Center, Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum, Indiana's Assembly Hall, Kentucky's Rupp Arena, Arizona's McKale Center, and BYU's Mariott Center. You honestly can't go wrong with any of them. They are all historic venues. Sure, you can make a case for plenty of others, but College Basketball Uncharted got it right. Here's a look at their complete list of the Top 50 College Basketball venues. View the original article to see embedded media. Related: Is Michigan State Freshman Guard Still Considered a Lottery Pick?
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Landlord who evicted family-of-seven so his daughter could ‘move in' ordered to pay €15k damages
Claire Friel, her partner and kids had been renting a four-bed house in Termon, Letterkenny, Co Donegal from Declan Breslin since 2015. She told a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) tribunal hearing that there were some issues throughout the tenancy. Ms Friel previously took a separate RTB case against Mr Breslin, where she was awarded €3,400 due to the 'overpayment of taxes and charges'. Another dispute arose when Ms Friel was issued with a notice of termination in October 2022, a few days before an eviction ban was introduced by the Government. This ban lasted between October 30 and March 31. Mr Breslin said the grounds for the notice of termination was that he wanted the house for his daughter. The notice gave the tenants until May 12, 2023 to move out. They struggled to find alternative accommodation and asked the landlord if they could have more time. Ms Friel alleged that the landlord 'began to engage in intimidating behaviour, such as blocking her car on the road', calling her on the phone without saying anything, and threatening them with legal action. She tried to source rental accommodation through the local authority, but this was unsuccessful. In November 2023, Ms Friel and her family left the property. They spent around €35,000 buying two mobile homes after 'draining' their savings and securing credit union loans. When she moved out, Mr Breslin claimed there were issues with receiving the Housing Assistant Payment (HAP). He stated he would return her deposit of €500 once that was resolved. However, she never received it. After they vacated the property, Ms Friel alleged there was no evidence anybody else moved into the house. She said the property could be seen from the road and that there were no lights on. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Ms Friel told the RTB that the landlord 'showed no empathy' towards their situation. She claimed they carried out maintenance and repairs on the garden, but never asked for money. She sought for the return of her deposit and also €15,000 in compensation so she could pay off the loans they took out for the mobile homes. In his evidence, Mr Breslin said that his daughter worked all over the world and got married in April 2023. He asked the tribunal why he would expect his daughter to spend €1,500 per month on rent when he had a 'free house to give to her'. His daughter moved in with some furniture before Christmas 2023 and stayed for about a week after Christmas, before she went travelling. He said he started to renovate the house but soon after a boiler had burst and that he had been working on the house on-and-off since February 2024. He said that his daughter had not stayed full-time in the house, but came and went for weekends. He submitted that his daughter had planned to move in in May 2023, but that her plans had had to change because the tenants did not move out until November. His daughter last lived in the house full-time in February 2024. She is now based in Athlone. When asked by the tribunal if he wanted to re-offer the house to the tenants, he said he did not want to. Mr Breslin said his other daughter was now engaged and he wants to keep the house for his family to use. He told the tribunal he would return the deposit, he thought he had been very fair to the tenants, and that it wasn't his responsibility to house them. The RTB ruled that the notice of termination was invalid. The reason given in the notice of termination was that Ms Breslin required the dwelling for her own occupation, expecting to occupy it indefinitely. In his evidence the landlord stated that his daughter had never occupied the dwelling full-time as her work took her 'all over'. As Ms Breslin did not attend the hearing, the RTB said she could not give evidence to assist it in determining whether or not her requirement of the dwelling was a bona fide one. The tribunal said the consequences of the termination of the tenancy 'were profound'. Ms Friel was awarded €15,000 damages.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal firings, economic uncertainty stain REIT outlooks
Equity reported a record low turnover rate in the first quarter at 7.9 percent, COO Michael Manelis said. Camden reported a 3.3 percent pop in lease renewals, one of the firm's highest-ever rates, Executive Vice Chairman Keith Oden said. Right now, renters are holding on to those keys — tightly. 'People, if they lose their jobs, don't immediately give us the keys.' 'We are a lagging, not a leading indicator of changes in the economy,' Parrell said on the firm's Wednesday earnings call. Neither the REIT nor peers Equity and Camden said layoffs had hit leasing numbers. But impacts typically manifest six to eight months down the line, Breslin said; Equity's CEO Mark Parrell echoed this. AvalonBay will feel that absence. About 12 percent of its residents work for the federal government, Breslin said. Swap the local lens for a national one and 260,000 federal employees have exited the workforce — by choice, force or some mix — since President Donald Trump took office, according to a May analysis by Reuters. The federal workforce in D.C., alone, is projected to shrink 21 percent by September 30, according to the District's Office of Revenue Analysis, which now forecasts the metro region to enter a mild recession by year's end. The REIT, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, owns multifamily in 12 states and, notably, Washington, D.C., where sweeping federal layoffs have marred the job market and stoked lasting fears among the still employed. AvalonBay CEO Sean Breslin said talk from tenants, both prospective and current, has centered on: 'I have a job today; will I have a job tomorrow?' Mortgage rates and home prices are high, which has dissuaded would-be buyers from leaving leases and further pressured a nationally undersupplied housing market. Meanwhile, peak rental season is dawning, creating a perfect storm for owners. All three REITs said demand is about as robust as it gets — at least right now. The upshot: Market fundamentals are solid and poised to strengthen; the biggest unknown now is the jobs market. Execs admitted uncertainty clouded crystal balls. Still, they shared what they could divine. 'You're like the only apartment REIT that so far has really talked about resident concerns,' Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Goldfarb said on AvalonBay's Thursday call. An outlook during earnings season should be par for the course. But the industry has basically been mum since 'Liberation Day,' making straight talk on earnings calls held by Equity Residential, AvalonBay Communities and Camden Property Trust a much-needed novelty. The heads of the country's largest apartment REITs are finally giving their two cents on how tariffs, trade wars and economic tumult might affect business. Story Continues That's good news for right now. But it also signals tenants are responding to uncertainty, and hard times may be on the horizon. Breslin outlined the typical chain of events when economic outlooks get dicey: tenants hunker down, then they cut the 'wants' in their budget until they're forced to trim the 'needs' — critically, rent. The signs are there. Discretionary spending is down. It has slipped precipitously since November 2025, according to Deloitte, though it remains above 2023 and 2024 lows. And tenants since February have reported higher expected costs for housing and utilities, signaling pocketbooks are being pinched. 'The probability of a recession remains at 60 percent,' J.P. Morgan bluntly proclaimed in its mid-April report. Still, those jitters aren't yet rattling the REITs. Or so they claim. 'As of today, we are not seeing any signs of consumer weakness,' Equity's Manelis said. When weakness does show up, it manifests as broken leases, move-outs for lower rents, fewer renewals and late payments. 'We haven't had people coming in and saying, 'Oh my god, I've lost my job in the federal government, you need to let me off my lease,'' said Camden CEO Ric Campo. 'We just haven't seen it.' Positive supply signs The good news, however, is the oversupply story seems to be in the rearview mirror, and, barring a surge in unemployment, dwindling deliveries should give rents a boost. The first quarter marked the first time since 2021 that tenants nationally leased new units faster than developers could deliver them. Last year, Washington, D.C. pumped out the greatest excess of apartments, as compared to tenant demand, according to RealPage. Then came Houston and Las Vegas. The scales are tipping in landlords' favor in Dallas, Atlanta and Denver, Equity Chief Investment Officer Alec Brackenridge said. Austin, Charlotte and Phoenix 'haven't cauterized the bleeding from all the supply that they've been under,' he added, but dwindling pipelines signal they soon may. Austin, which has led the pack nationally in oversupply, produced fewer units than were leased in the first three months of 2025 — the first time in three and a half years it has recorded positive net absorption, according to the brokerage MMG. The pipeline is still robust, but construction is slowing 'pretty significantly towards the back half of 2025,' Camden's Camp said. After nearly two years of negative growth, rent changes are now projected to turn positive by 2026, according to Origin Investments. Sun Belt snap back Groups such as AvalonBay are betting on that sea change. The firm went into contract on eight Texas multifamily properties in the first quarter — two in Austin, the rest in Dallas-Fort Worth — for over $600 million. 'Look at the basis at which we can enter these markets,' Breslin said, specifying the Texas deal had priced out to $230,000 a door. By comparison, per-unit pricing in Austin topped out at $275,000 during the last cycle. Houston-based Camden one-upped AvalonBay in Febraury, scooping up Austin's Emerson at Leander for about $68 million or $192,000 a unit — a 16 percent discount from its appraised value. Across the Sun Belt, distress that marred values from 2022 through last year is working its way through the system and investors eyeing the shift are stepping off the sidelines. 'Lenders have just kind of had it: they're not extending loans anymore; they're not extending caps on interest rates,' Equity's Brackenridge said. S2 Capital, for example, one of the multifamily syndicators to ride out the Sun Belt's downturn, snapped up a good chunk of buildings owned by GVA – a syndicator that didn't fare so well. One of the cycle's largest investors, GVA has lost dozens of assets to foreclosure and forced sales after interest rates soared on its floating-rate loans; it faces multiple investor suits alleging shady dealings. S2, in partnership with WindMass Capital (a third syndicator), picked up one of GVA's struggling Austin assets in January for $50 million. S2 also stepped in as the general partner on a 1,768-unit GVA portfolio with buildings in Dallas and Nashville, and Knoxville, Tennessee. 'We're seeing some more products starting to come to the market,' Brackenridge underscored. 'At the same time, there's a lot of interest in buying that product.' Equity is currently combing Dallas, Denver and Atlanta for acquisition opportunities. Unlike its peers, it doesn't quite have the appetite for Austin yet. 'There's such a glut of supply — that's probably a little bit later for us,' CEO Parrell said. What about tariffs? All three REITs, which double as developers, said tariffs would pressure expenses. AvalonBay estimated a 5 percent jump in hard costs and said the uptick 'could be enough to tip some projects into being infeasible.' 'Even with no change in costs, it's really hard to make deals underwrite right now,' Brackenridge said. A mix of uncertainty and still-high rates is complicating the math. But as new development activity dries up, contractors and subcontractors are more willing to come down on pricing, which figures to offset the higher price of materials, executives said. 'Contractors [are] getting really hungry,' Brackenridge added. 'They see the pipeline dwindling and so they're accepting less of a margin.' AvalonBay, which acts as its own contractor, said, 'Our phones are ringing off the hook with deeper bid coverage and stronger subcontractor availability than we have seen in years.' 'This bodes well,' Chief Investment Officer Matt Birenbaum said. Read more This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story.
