Outcome of Wayne Murphy’s ESB discrimination complaint not disclosed in available report

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

Wayne Murphy brought an age discrimination complaint after an unsuccessful application for an ESB position in Arklow, Co Wicklow. He also told a Workplace Relations Commission hearing that he believed a dispute from around 20 years earlier might have been a reason he was not rehired.

At the hearing on 15 January 2025, Murphy said he believed he had been blacklisted. He questioned the ages supplied for the successful candidates and said they did not have his overhead line experience or a line manager’s personal recommendation.

ESB in-house solicitor Janice Kavanagh said nobody involved in the recruitment process knew of Murphy’s earlier claim. Anne Gaskin-Roe, an ESB HR officer involved in shortlisting, denied knowing of the prior complaint, swore to the accuracy of the ages supplied and denied there was a blacklist relating to Murphy.

Adjudication officer Penelope McGrath said she was alarmed by language in Murphy’s Facebook posts about the ESB. Murphy said the posts were intended for family and friends, described one phrase as a metaphor and said he did not apologise.

McGrath closed the hearing and said her decision would be given by email. A later report, published on 7 May 2025, identifies a WRC decision number for the case, but its available text does not disclose the outcome.