Barry Halpin awarded €40,000 after unfair dismissal

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Barry Halpin was awarded €40,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for unfair dismissal, as reported on 19 November 2024.

The Law Society Gazette reported that Halpin was stopped by gardaí while driving an Irish Rail company vehicle and found to have illegal drugs in his possession. It said he had passed the employer’s drug tests and was not a drug user, while he claimed others had coerced him because of a gambling addiction.

The report said Irish Rail terminated his employment without following a workplace investigation or natural justice procedures. The award was €40,000, described as 44 weeks’ pay, plus €7,500 notice pay.