Courts / Ireland / Report

Care service manager loses claim after accusing colleague of mocking her arthritic hands

Summary

Tara O'Flaherty, a care service manager, lost her claim for disability‑related harassment against her former employer, Mid West Healthcare Ltd trading as Kare Plus Mid West. She alleged that colleague Kristian Doyle had mocked her arthritic hands by "contorting" his fingers during a meeting and that other incidents of discriminatory harassment had occurred. Doyle denied all allegations, stating he had never behaved in such a manner and that any perceived mimicry was false. The tribunal, led by adjudicator Louise Boyle, found both parties' evidence evasive and lacking detail, questioning their credibility. Boyle concluded that O'Flaherty had failed to establish a case of discrimination or harassment, noting no failure to provide reasonable accommodation. The Employment Equality Act 1998 claim was therefore rejected. The decision was made in a hearing held in January 2025.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Care service manager loses claim after accusing colleague of mocking her arthritic hands. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• January 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
• 22 August 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2023 Other
• 27 July 2023 Incident
• 2025-10-06 Publication

Why: At a hearing in January 2025, Daniel McNamara BL, appearing for Ms O'Flaherty, put it to Mr Doyle 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 Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report