Courts / Donegal / Report
Lifeguard supervisor sacked over alleged failure to oversee 'life-or-death' ring buoy inspections brings unfair dismissal case
Summary
Lisa Dalton, a former lifeguard supervisor dismissed by Donegal County Council in November 2021, brought a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 before the Workplace Relations Commission. The council alleged she failed to ensure regular ring-buoy inspections were logged in a mobile app, citing broken trust over safety-critical duties. Dalton disputed this, stating her personal inspections were 100% completed and that she lacked adequate digital access to monitor lifeguard logs. She also noted she was absent with Covid-19 during key summer months. The council admitted it could not produce her line manager, David Friel, or the decision-makers to give evidence. Adjudicator Emile Daly stated she was not persuaded by the council's argument that Dalton was still on probation and thus unprotected by the Act. The matter has been adjourned for Ms Daly to consider her decision.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lifeguard supervisor sacked over alleged failure to oversee 'life-or-death' ring buoy inspections brings unfair dismissal case. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- November 2021 Other
- July 2021 Other
- April 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 31 November 2021 Other
- 2023-03-01 Publication
Why: Senior council engineer Joe McCarron gave evidence that he had been involved in a series of meetings in January, March and April that year, in order to "try and get improved performance and compliance" in the complainant's work area. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: The matter has been adjourned for Ms Daly to consider her decision.
Places mentioned
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