Courts / Ireland / Report

NCT operator ordered to pay veteran worker €13k after no-show at tribunal

Summary

In a tribunal hearing, Anne Doyle, a call‑centre worker dismissed by phone after 23 years with Applus Car Testing Ltd., secured €13,200 in compensation. Doyle had been absent from work since 4 December 2020 following a fall and subsequent medical investigations that revealed a complex condition involving lower back pain and hand tremors. She had attempted to negotiate a return to work on reduced hours or from home, but the company rejected these options. On 7 February 2024, a human‑resources manager terminated her employment over the phone. Doyle appealed, presenting medical evidence of improvement, but the appeal meeting was dismissed as a "joke." The adjudicator, Catherine Byrne, found that Applus failed to respond to the Workplace Relations Commission's notice and had not appeared at the hearing. She ruled that Doyle's dismissal was linked to her disability, upheld the disability‑discrimination complaint, and awarded €11,000.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: NCT operator ordered to pay veteran worker €13k after no-show at tribunal. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 7 February 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
• 4 December 2020 Other
• October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 7 February Other
• 2025-10-08 Publication

Why: "It is my view that the complainant was dismissed in this perfunctory manner because she was absent due to illness," Ms Byrne added. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report