Courts / Clare / Report

Clare county coroner unfairly dismissed legal secretary

Date
2023-05-31
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Ennis
County
Clare

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Clare county coroner Isobel O'Dea to pay over €8,000 in compensation to former legal secretary Mary McInerney for unfair dismissal, in addition to a statutory redundancy lump sum. McInerney had worked for O'Dea since 2008, receiving a day rate of €120 for seven hours, and was placed on layoff in April 2020 during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed she was not asked to return to work and that she had only been offered a redundancy package in October 2021, which she accepted because she felt she had no other option. O'Dea denied that McInerney had requested redundancy, stating she had facilitated it. The tribunal found that O'Dea made no effort to consult McInerney about her role, presented redundancy as a fait accompli, and that McInerney was unfairly dismissed under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Clare county coroner unfairly dismissed legal secretary. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

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Stage Hearing Or Decision

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