Courts / Ireland / Report

'Egregious': Former ministerial driver dismissed on Christmas Day wins €30k

Summary

A tribunal found that Trevor Shaw, a former ministerial driver for Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, was unfairly dismissed on Christmas Day 2022 when the Department of Agriculture replaced civilian drivers with Garda personnel for security reasons. Shaw had been notified of redundancy in November 2022 and was offered a clerical role at the Department of Social Protection, a position he deemed unsuitable due to lack of computer skills. The tribunal ruled that the Department acted unreasonably and without consultation, and that the dismissal was peremptory. It awarded Shaw €30,000 in compensation, in addition to his statutory redundancy entitlements and an undisclosed ex‑gratia payment. The decision highlighted the lack of a voluntary redundancy option and the absence of an appeal process for Shaw. The tribunal's findings were based solely on the evidence presented in the hearing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Egregious': Former ministerial driver dismissed on Christmas Day wins €30k. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• November 2022 Other
• 25 December 2022 Other
• Christmas Day Other
• 2024-04-19 Publication

Why: Giving evidence on a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Shaw said he was left with "no other option" except to take a severance package because the only option given to him was to transfer to the Department of Social Protection and work as a clerical officer. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report