Courts / Laois / Report

Ex-Midlands Prison governor too late to take sexist discrimination claim over alleged demotion

Summary

The former acting campus governor of the Midlands Prison complex, Ethel Gavin, has failed in a sexist discrimination complaint after claiming she was demoted at the behest of male prison officers under her command. The Workplace Relations Commission found that her claim was out of time, as she lodged proceedings under the Employment Equality Act 1998 too late. Ms Gavin alleged that she was removed from her acting-up position following a walkout by 14 male officers in May 2018, which she claimed led to her being placed in a less prestigious role. She argued that the male officers involved were not reprimanded and that she faced a continuum of discrimination. However, the tribunal rejected her claims, stating there were no acts of discrimination within the six months prior to her complaint. The adjudicator noted that the bullying complaint against Ms Gavin was not substantiated, and the Prison Service denied any misleading press statements regarding her retirement party.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Ex-Midlands Prison governor too late to take sexist discrimination claim over alleged demotion. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• May 2018 Other
• 4 May 2018 Incident
• 27 March 2020 Other
• 23 March 2020 Other
• 2023-11-15 Publication

Why: Aoife McMahon BL, who appeared instructed by Chief State Solicitor's Office, argued the Ms Gavin was "out of time" because there had been "no acts of discrimination… within the six months prior to the referral of the complaints". CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

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Read the original CNI report