Courts / Cork / Report
Pub ordered to pay €10k for 'humiliating' remark about barman by company boss
Summary
A barman, Sean Murphy, has been awarded €10,000 in compensation after a ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that a remark made by his boss, Barry Hennessy, violated his dignity at work. The incident occurred during a busy shift in February 2025 at the Hunted Hog bar in Castlemartyr, Co Cork, when Mr Hennessy reportedly told a customer, "Ah never mind him, he doesn't be with it half the time." Mr Murphy, who has diabetes, described the comment as "humiliating" and damaging to his dignity. He had been working for over five hours without a break, and the remark was made openly in the restaurant. Mr Murphy claimed that the working conditions at the bar were unsuitable for his health and that the comment, along with the broader working environment, amounted to discrimination on age and disability grounds. Mr Hennessy denied that the remark was intended to belittle Mr Murphy, stating it was made in a "jovial, lighter manner" to manage customer expectations.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pub ordered to pay €10k for 'humiliating' remark about barman by company boss. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- February 2025 Other
- September 2024 Other
- March 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-05-13 Publication
Why: He said he was "physically strained" because of the demands of the work without a break. CNI source report
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