Courts / Ireland / Report

Kate O'Connell firm cleared of discriminating against dismissed polio survivor

Summary

A tribunal found that Morgan O'Connell Pharmacy Ltd, co‑owned by former Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell, was not liable for disability discrimination or unfair dismissal in a case brought by pharmacist Fadia Alshareefy, a polio survivor. Alshareefy alleged that the pharmacy discriminated against her because of her disability and that she was unfairly dismissed after a Gardaí inspection in May 2022. She claimed the male director became agitated, that she received no support, that CCTV was abused, and that she was denied reasonable accommodation. The tribunal rejected all these claims, stating there was no credible evidence of discrimination and that the dismissal was purely financial. Alshareefy's unfair dismissal claim was also found statute‑barred, and her other wage‑related complaints were withdrawn. The decision was made by adjudicator Michael McEntee.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Kate O'Connell firm cleared of discriminating against dismissed polio survivor. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 22 May 2022 Other
• December 2022 Other
• 8 April 2023 Other
• Christmas Incident
• 2024-12-16 Publication

Why: However, she was statute-barred from pursuing that claim because she lost her job two and a half weeks before she was due to complete a year's service. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report