Courts / Dublin / Report

Spilt Milk worker wins €5k for sexual harassment

Date
2025-07-29

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Leni Shanahan, a former employee of Spilt Milk, secured €5,000 in compensation from LN Ice Cream Ltd following a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. Ms Shanahan alleged sexual harassment by a colleague, identified as Mr A, during her employment at the Drury Street shop in 2024. She claimed Mr A made inappropriate comments about sexual chemistry, commented on her physical appearance, and insisted she stop refusing his advances. The adjudicator found that the employer failed to take reasonable and practical steps to prevent harassment, noting no measures were in place. Although the adjudicator noted it was unhelpful that Ms Shanahan declined to participate in the company's internal investigation, this did not diminish the respondent's liability. Dave Meehan, a company director and applicant in related proceedings, testified that he had since undertaken human resources training and apologized for the situation. He stated he had no prior experience managing a city centre shop and believed he had led with care. Another director, Steven Murphy, noted that the internal investigation found no factual evidence to uphold the complaint, as Mr A refuted the allegations. The WRC adjudicator, Pat Brady, upheld the claim and awarded the compensation, rejecting the statutory defence due to the lack of preventive measures.