Courts / Monaghan / Report
Volunteer who said he was sacked for warning Church officials of 'rogue' relic traders can't pursue case, WRC rules
Summary
A veteran security volunteer, Frank Purcell, who claimed he was dismissed by the Augustinian Order for warning church officials about 'rogue' relic traders, has been ruled ineligible to pursue an employment rights claim by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC found it has no jurisdiction to hear Purcell's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Purcell's representative stated he was 'summarily dismissed without any reason or basis' after 16 years of volunteering. The church's legal team argued the dismissal followed a complaint by church-goers. Frank McDonnell of the Limerick Council of Trade Unions claimed Purcell was 'very badly treated' after 16 years of service, with no explanation for his dismissal. John Monaghan BL, representing the Order, noted Purcell's WRC complaint stated his weekly wages as '€0.00', arguing there was no employment relationship. Adjudication officer Peter O'Brien concluded there was no evidence of an employment contract and dismissed the complaint, stating Purcell had no legal standing to pursue the case.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Volunteer who said he was sacked for warning Church officials of 'rogue' relic traders can't pursue case, WRC rules. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- October 2024 Other
- 2026-07-31 Publication
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