Quick Read
- Kenny Jacobs has ‘voluntarily stepped down’ as CEO of DAA, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports.
- The decision came after Jacobs settled a High Court lawsuit he initiated against DAA following his suspension in December 2025.
- The settlement terms include DAA covering Jacobs’s legal costs.
- Jacobs had sought his return to work and claimed the DAA board had prejudged his removal.
- Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien had previously refused to approve a reported €1 million exit package for Jacobs.
DUBLIN (Azat TV) – Kenny Jacobs has ‘voluntarily stepped down’ as chief executive of DAA, the State-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports, following the settlement of a High Court lawsuit he had initiated against the company. The resolution, announced in court on Thursday, February 5, 2026, brings an end to a high-profile dispute that began with Jacobs’s suspension in December amid allegations against him, marking a significant leadership change for a critical piece of Irish infrastructure.
The settlement was presented to Judge Marguerite Bolger by lawyers for both Jacobs and DAA, who confirmed that the parties had reached mutually agreeable terms. Under the agreement, Mr. Jacobs will relinquish his role, and DAA will cover his legal costs. Both sides acknowledged the substantial contributions of DAA’s management and staff to the company’s operational and commercial success, as well as its positive impact on the Irish economy.
DAA CEO Steps Down Amid High Court Settlement
Kenny Jacobs’s departure comes after a period of intense legal and corporate scrutiny. He was suspended from his position with full pay in December 2025, pending an investigation into approximately 20 alleged issues. In response, Jacobs launched High Court proceedings in early January 2026, seeking his immediate return to work and declarations that the DAA board had prejudged his removal from office. He had claimed in a sworn statement to the court that the board’s decision to investigate was “tainted by reasonable objective bias” and that the outcome had been “predetermined.”
The High Court action was poised to begin a hearing on Thursday, February 5, running into Friday, but the eleventh-hour settlement averted a full legal battle. Senior counsel Padraic Lyons, representing Mr. Jacobs, informed Judge Bolger of the resolution, leading to the case being struck out. DAA had previously given a court undertaking to pause its internal investigation into the complaints against Jacobs until his lawsuit was resolved, with lawyers for the airport operator stating at the time that DAA was ‘absolutely opposed’ to Jacobs’s case.
Allegations and Suspension Led to Legal Action
The allegations that led to Mr. Jacobs’s suspension were not the first he had faced. A previous, separate investigation, conducted by barrister Mark Connaughton earlier in 2025, did not uphold two formal complaints against him. In his written evidence, Jacobs stated that Connaughton had rejected allegations that he engaged in ‘sexist, misogynistic, racist, homophobic and ageist behaviours’ in comments to or about employees. However, the emergence of new allegations prompted DAA to initiate a fresh investigation, tapping barrister Kelley Smith to conduct it, and subsequently suspending Jacobs in December.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien had previously refused to approve an exit package for Jacobs. This package, which emerged from mediation between the two sides, was reportedly close to €1 million. The Minister’s refusal underscored the political and financial sensitivities surrounding Jacobs’s tenure and the circumstances of his potential departure.
Jacobs’s Tenure and Departure’s Economic Context
In a statement issued after the court’s decision, Kenny Jacobs expressed his satisfaction that the dispute had been resolved. He conveyed immense pride in DAA’s achievements during his time as CEO, citing ‘record operational, commercial and financial results.’ Jacobs also highlighted numerous improvements made for passengers at Dublin and Cork airports and the infrastructure expansion supporting aviation capacity growth and sustainability, which he described as ‘vital to the Irish economy.’ He concluded by thanking the ‘exceptional teams’ at Cork Airport, Dublin Airport, ARI, and DAA International.
A spokeswoman for DAA indicated that the airport operator would not be making any further comments beyond what was stated in court. The resolution of this dispute allows DAA to move forward in appointing new leadership, ensuring stability for an enterprise crucial to Ireland’s connectivity and economic prosperity, particularly as the aviation sector continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery and growth challenges.
The swift resolution of this high-profile legal battle signals DAA’s intent to stabilize its leadership and focus on its core operational mandate, particularly given the strategic importance of Dublin and Cork airports to the Irish economy.