Courts / Dublin / Report

Tenant claims stress of dealing with landlord led to caesarean

Date
2023-07-04

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Megan Kenna, a pregnant tenant in Howth, claims her landlord Brendan O'Brien terminated her lease because she was pregnant, alleging discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. Kenna says the landlord's stress over her pregnancy forced her to have a caesarean section, citing a consultant obstetrician's statement. O'Brien accepted the medical opinion but disputes that his actions caused the stress. Kenna's case was heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, where recordings of a meeting on 9 April 2022 were played. In the meeting, O'Brien told Kenna he could not allow a child in the apartment, citing a supposedly unsafe spiral staircase, and offered alternative accommodation that Kenna deemed unsuitable. Kenna and her husband left the property after receiving notice of termination. The adjudicator will decide in months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Tenant claims stress of dealing with landlord led to caesarean. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

9 April 2022 Other
January 2022 Other
2023-07-04 Publication

Why: A tenant who claims her landlord effectively terminated her lease because she became pregnant says her stress levels meant her child had to be delivered by caesarean section. CNI source report