Courts / Ireland / Report
Building firm ordered to pay €10k to safety manager let go while pregnant
2025-05-09
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
In a 2025 tribunal decision, Bretland Construction Ltd was ordered to pay over €10,000 to Claudia O'Connor for discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. O'Connor, a junior health and safety officer hired in May 2023, was placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) after she disclosed her pregnancy in August 2023. The firm abandoned the PIP after seven weeks and terminated her employment on 14 November 2023. The tribunal found that the company's claims of performance issues were credible but noted that O'Connor had not been warned of any problems before she reported her pregnancy. The award included €10,415 for discrimination, €873 for breaches of the Terms of Employment Information Act 1994, and €201 for unpaid annual leave under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The case was heard by adjudicator Máire Mulcahy, with Peter Dunlea representing the respondent and the Leinster Citizens Information Service representing the complainant.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Building firm ordered to pay €10k to safety manager let go while pregnant. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 14 November Other
- May 2023 Other
- 11 August Other
- 2025-05-09 Publication
Topics
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