Courts / Ireland / Report
'Lackery' about Pope sparked row between recycling depot workers, tribunal told
2025-05-23
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
Seamus Behan, a former van driver for Liberties Recycling Development and Training CLG, was dismissed after a workplace row on 20 December 2023. He denies grabbing his colleague, Mr A, by the neck or calling him a "f*****", and claims he was upset by remarks about Pope John Paul. Behan says he was unaware of an earlier complaint against him until after the incident and that the company's investigation relied on selected statements and omitted CCTV footage, which he says would have shown his innocence. The company argues Behan's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, citing verbal abuse, aggression and damage to property. The Workplace Relations Commission heard both sides, with the company's manager Adam Moloney describing the altercation as "off the charts" and noting a call to Gardaí that was not answered. Behan's representative, Thomas Behan, contended that witnesses were hand‑picked and that the incident should have been resolved informally.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Lackery' about Pope sparked row between recycling depot workers, tribunal told. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- February 2024 Other
- 20 December 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2023 Other
- Christmas Incident
- New Year Incident
- 2025-05-23 Publication
Why: Because I didn't know anything about the 14th, I was at the van, and he was at the van. CNI source report
Topics
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