Claire Moloney fails mask-discrimination claim at WRC

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

Claire Moloney’s discrimination claim against the Irish Prison Service over pandemic mask requirements was rejected by the Workplace Relations Commission, which found her condition was not a protected disability under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The proceedings were reported on 13 July 2023.

The complaint concerned the refusal of a waiver from mask rules and an alleged withdrawal of an arrangement allowing Ms Moloney to work apart from colleagues. The prison service disputed her claim that it threatened to remove her from the payroll, saying payroll was mentioned only when she reached the limits of paid sick leave. Adjudicating officer Thomas O’Driscoll said the medical evidence provided little reason to doubt that wearing a mask did not restrict her breathing or worsen her condition.