Courts / Dublin / Report
Garda driver facing poverty over forced retirement wins right to go back to work
Summary
Tom Ronan, a civilian driver for An Garda Siochána, was forced into retirement at 70, leaving him with a weekly income of less than €400 from a small occupational pension and state entitlements. He brought an age‑discrimination complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The tribunal found that the mandatory retirement age was not reasonable or proportionate because it would cause Ronan financial hardship, as his total annual pension income of €20,600 would be insufficient. The WRC ordered An Garda Siochána to re‑engage Ronan as a driver within four weeks and to extend his employment for three years, with the new service counted in his pension calculations. The decision was based on the tribunal's assessment that Ronan's pension was relatively low and that his chances of finding alternative work at age 70 were significantly less than those of younger candidates.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda driver facing poverty over forced retirement wins right to go back to work. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 27 March Other
- January 2020 Other
- 27 March 2023 Other
- 10 October Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-11-15 Publication
Why: A civilian driver for An Garda Siochána who was made retire at 70 has won the right to stay at work for another three years after a tribunal found he faced falling into poverty because his pension is so small. CNI source report
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