Courts / Galway / Report

Bid for extra €72k in compensation due to inflation in construction costs is rejected

Summary

Conor Hynes, who was unfairly dismissed by Heneghan Premier Services Ltd after raising concerns about the lack of PPE for workers during the Covid‑19 pandemic, was awarded €24,840 by the Workplace Relations Commission. Hynes sought an additional €72,000 in compensation for inflation in construction costs, arguing that the price of building materials had risen after his dismissal and that this loss was directly linked to his protected disclosure. The Commission found no evidence that Hynes had committed to building a house before his dismissal and therefore excluded that loss from the decision. The company was not represented at the initial hearing but later joined by an HR consultant who submitted documentary evidence. The adjudicating officer ruled that, in the absence of a defence, the termination was unfair and awarded the €24,840, noting that any redundancy payment would be deducted from the compensation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bid for extra €72k in compensation due to inflation in construction costs is rejected. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 24 February Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-05-11 Publication

Why: "[The reason for] both his choice for layoff and for redundancy and dismissal was the protected disclosure," Mr Kinsey said. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report