Courts / Waterford / Report
'How can I be racist?': sacked hospital worker says bullying complaints were orchestrated
Summary
Annette Ryan, a former catering supervisor at Waterford Hospital, was summarily dismissed in September 2023 after a WRC investigation found gross misconduct. She claimed that her ex‑boss, Marcin Skrzypczak, orchestrated bullying complaints that painted her as a racist, including a fabricated allegation that she told a junior colleague "You're not Irish, you're black." Ryan said she had worked with colleagues from Nigeria, China and elsewhere for 13 years and denied the accusations. She alleged that Skrzypczak had suspended her without warning, confiscated her access cards, and prevented her from speaking to staff. The WRC hearing revealed that four junior catering staff had lodged formal complaints in July 2023, leading to her suspension and eventual dismissal. Ryan's appeal was upheld by the WRC in December 2023, and she was offered no mitigating explanations during the disciplinary process. She has since sought compensation for the period she was out of work, having found a new job in March 2024.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'How can I be racist?': sacked hospital worker says bullying complaints were orchestrated. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- September 2023 Other
- August 17th Other
- 30 August 2023 Other
- 15 September 2023 Other
- December 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2024 Other
- 2025-03-27 Publication
Why: Managers considered it necessary to suspend Ms Ryan pending investigation because of the seriousness of the allegations and the "fear" expressed by the other workers, he said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Places mentioned
- Waterford
- Waterford Hospital
Topics
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