Courts / Dublin / Report

WRC upholds dismissal of SVP worker who claimed she was let go after raising vetting concerns

Date
2025-10-09

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission has upheld the dismissal of Valerie McDonagh, a human resources officer at the Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of Ireland. Ms. McDonagh claimed her termination in July 2024 constituted whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, alleging she was let go after raising concerns about the vetting documentation of a new hire, referred to as 'Mr X'. The adjudicator rejected these claims, finding that the dismissal was based on genuine performance issues during her probation, specifically her communication style. The charity's head of HR, Briona Sheils, testified that Ms. McDonagh's approach was 'too sharp' and lacked the emotional intelligence required for the role. The adjudicator noted that while Ms. McDonagh argued her dismissal was retaliation for highlighting gaps in Mr X's overseas vetting, the evidence indicated the employer had a legitimate basis for the decision unrelated to any protected disclosure. The adjudicator also noted there was no evidence that Mr X posed a risk to children. Ms. McDonagh's complaints, which also included a claim under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, were dismissed. The decision concludes that the respondent's concerns regarding the complainant's inability to adjust her communication style provided a valid reason for probationary dismissal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: WRC upholds dismissal of SVP worker who claimed she was let go after raising vetting concerns. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When: