Patrick Gorman wins €38,500 unfair dismissal award from WRC

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

Patrick Gorman won €38,500 for unfair dismissal from Inland Fisheries Ireland at the Workplace Relations Commission, reported on 29 December 2023.

The WRC rejected his request to return to his job. It found IFI treated him unfairly from his suspension and that dismissal was too severe a sanction.

The case followed his dismissal after his 13-year-old son drove an IFI tractor on a public road at night while Gorman was suspended. The agency also examined his use of an IFI boat.

The adjudicator said the tractor incident was a serious error, but considered the suspension sudden and unfair after Gorman's long service. He concluded dismissal was not a reasonable sanction.

The WRC said reinstatement was unsuitable because the relationship between Gorman and IFI had effectively ended. It reduced his compensation by 50% because his conduct could have justified demotion or unpaid suspension.