Matthew McGranaghan awarded €43,840 over employment breaches

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Workplace Relations Commission awarded former fiddle player Matthew McGranaghan €43,840 in total for breaches of employment legislation by MEPC Music, the company that oversaw Michael English’s band. The proceedings were reported on 29 August 2024.

The WRC found that McGranaghan was unfairly dismissed and awarded him €26,880 for that breach. Adjudication officer Caroline Reidy said the company had applied no process or procedure when it told him by email that his services were no longer required.

The commission ruled that McGranaghan was an employee in practice, although MEPC Music had maintained he was a self-employed contractor. Reidy said he received a set fee for each gig or rehearsal, was instructed by the company on work matters, had no flexibility over when work was performed, was told what music to play and wore a band uniform.

The other awards were €5,000 for receiving no holidays or annual leave, €1,500 for public holiday entitlement, €500 for the failure to provide a written contract, €4,480 for minimum notice, €1,000 for unpaid Sunday work and a further €4,480 in lieu of notice of termination.