Courts / Dublin / Report
'We will see who has big balls': horse project worker fails in unfair dismissal claim
Summary
A trainee equestrian instructor, Shane Kehoe, was dismissed by the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project (FYHP) after sending a text that mentioned bringing his relatives to the workplace. The text, quoted as "We will see who has big balls when my family and [my partner's family] come to meet her on Friday," was interpreted by FYHP as a threat of violence. The project's board, after an emergency meeting, decided to close the yard to the public that day, citing safety concerns for staff, children, and other visitors. Kehoe claimed the dismissal was unfair and an attempt to avoid paying redundancy. The Workplace Relations Commission found no alternative to dismissal had been considered, and the decision was upheld as not procedurally unfair. The case concluded with the dismissal deemed justified by the commission.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'We will see who has big balls': horse project worker fails in unfair dismissal claim. Charges or matters: unfair dismissal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 28 June 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-05-16 Publication
Why: A trainee equestrian instructor who was sacked because his employer saw an alleged threat of violence in a text the worker sent about bringing his relatives down to his workplace has failed in his claim for unfair dismissal. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: unfair dismissal (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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