Courts / Ireland / Report

Disability care manager denies mocking colleague's arthritic hands

Summary

In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Kristian Doyle, general manager of Mid West Healthcare Ltd (trading as Kare Plus Mid West), denied allegations that he mocked a colleague, Tara O'Flaherty, who has rheumatoid arthritis. Doyle denied contorting his fingers, shouting at O'Flaherty, and throwing mannequin limbs at her while saying "You could do with a bit of that." He also denied mimicking her arthritis and said he had never raised his voice. Doyle stated he had never been formally notified of O'Flaherty's disability and that the company had not provided any accommodations. O'Flaherty's lawyers claimed a hostile environment and bullying, but Doyle and company representatives denied discrimination. The adjudicator closed the hearing, with a decision to be issued later.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Disability care manager denies mocking colleague's arthritic hands. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
• 22 August 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 27 July 2023 Other
• July 2023 Other
• December 2022 Other
• 2025-01-13 Publication

Why: Cross-examining Mr Doyle, Daniel McNamara BL, appearing for Ms O'Flaherty, put it to him that on 22 August 2023, Ms O'Flaherty had sought a different laptop because her work device was having some "technical difficulties" connecting to a projector. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report