Glitch in The Matrix: projectionist loses unfair dismissal claim after wrong film screened

A cinema projectionist in Sligo has failed in his unfair dismissal claim following his sack in 2020. Joseph Callaghan, who worked at an Omniplex cinema since 1992, was dismissed after the wrong film was screened to patrons. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that tickets sold for The Matrix were instead fulfilled by The Matrix Reloaded on 12 July 2019, leaving customers significantly dissatisfied. Mr Callaghan denied responsibility for deleting the correct film from the server, contending other staff possessed access to the projection room. However, adjudicating officer Shay Henry found CCTV footage, when accounting for a time delay, showed Mr Callaghan in the server room when the file was deleted. The officer determined the company had reasonable grounds to believe the complainant committed misconduct and that dismissal fell within proportionate responses. The unfair dismissal claim was dismissed, as was a separate claim under the Payment of Wages Act, given the dismissal related to gross misconduct.