Courts / Dublin / Report
Tesco manager sacked for drinking €9 worth of Red Bull fails in bid to overturn dismissal
Summary
John Herd, a Tesco deputy manager, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the supermarket sacked him for failing to pay for three Red Bull cans worth €9.45 in October 2021. The loss‑prevention system flagged the incidents, and the store manager, Emma Doyle, raised the matter on 29 October. Herd argued he was under severe personal stress, "on the verge of being made homeless," and claimed the company had shown favoritism toward other staff. He said he had previously complained about a colleague who had given out free spirits and Clubcard points. The tribunal found the three unpaid drinks constituted gross misconduct, upheld the dismissal as effective immediately, and rejected Herd's appeal that the sanction was excessive. The decision was supported by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case highlights the company's stance on trust and the seriousness of repeated theft allegations.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Tesco manager sacked for drinking €9 worth of Red Bull fails in bid to overturn dismissal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2021 Other
- 29 October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2021 Other
- 2023-04-05 Publication
Why: John Herd said he "forgot to pay" for energy drinks on three occasions in October 2021, when he was accused of stealing them, because he was "on the verge of being made homeless" and was losing sleep over it. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Theft
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