Patricia Higgins wins €20,000 over safety complaint and treatment

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

Patricia Higgins was awarded €20,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for penalisation after a health and safety complaint and less favourable treatment as a part-time worker; the decision was reported on 13 March 2025. The complaint concerned conditions at the former Heaney Meats factory shop in Galway.

The WRC found that Ms Higgins was dismissed because she made a safety complaint about a tradesman working above her desk. Adjudicator Louise Boyle awarded €15,000 for penalisation under workplace safety legislation and €5,000 for less favourable treatment under part-time work legislation.