Shot multiple times as he defended Ukraine.. sacked when he returned to Ireland

Brian, 36, works as prison officer |  Dad took leave to go on front line

- JOHN HAND

AN Irish hero who spent months in hospital overcoming the injuries he suffered while fighting on the frontline in Ukraine was sacked when he tried to return to his job here. 

Brian Meagher, who was a prison officer in Mountjoy, suffered 17 entry and exit wounds when he was shot multiple times and struck with shrapnel as he fought in Kharkiv last September.

The dad-of-two, who is to be awarded a purple medal in Ukraine for his bravery and featured in a new documentary on his time there, had his contract terminated by the Irish Prison Service in May.

And now, after overcoming a battle for his life, he has been left with no choice but to take on a new fight with prison chiefs at the Workplace Relations Commission in a bid to get his job back.

A source said: “It is absolutely shameful that this man, after the bravery he has shown for those people, is treated like this.

“Our State has taken in over 100,000 Ukrainian people here, our politicians keep banging on about what we can do and what we are doing.

“But Brian Meagher puts his life on the line for Ukraine and how does the State treat him? They sack him. It’s a disgrace.”

Meath man Brian, 36, travelled to Ukraine at the end of May, 2022 before he later fought for the International Legion for the Defence of the country. While Brian was away, he had taken annual leave from his job and also had organised for his shifts to be covered.

In early September last year, the ex Irish Defence Forces man was struck by a hail of shrapnel and bullets as he and his team fought the Russians.