Courts / Dublin / Report

Dockworker fired for letting lost driver ride on handling machine

Date
2023-05-03

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In May 2020 a dockworker, Brian Dooley, was dismissed by Marine Terminals Ltd after a truck driver, who was lost and had climbed onto the running board of a moving container handling machine, was allowed to remain on the machine's cab. Dooley told the driver to dismount, but the driver refused, claiming he was lost. Dooley feared the driver could be struck by a lorry or container and, without a functioning two‑way radio, proceeded to the driver's truck to escort him to the collection point. The incident was discovered by a manager reviewing CCTV on 24 June 2020, leading to an investigation and Dooley's dismissal. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld Dooley's unfair dismissal claim, noting his 24 years of unblemished service, but reduced his loss‑of‑earnings award to €10,000 because his attempts to mitigate losses were deemed inadequate. The decision was published on 3 May 2023.