WRC considers Shannon Holland’s complaint against Ability West

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

The Workplace Relations Commission closed a hearing into Shannon Holland’s claims against Ability West after taking closing submissions, with adjudicating officer Anne McElduff considering her decision.

Holland claimed that Ability West discriminated against her on gender grounds through sexual harassment and constructively dismissed her. The proceedings were reported on 13 December 2022.

At a hearing on 29 April 2022, the commission heard about messages sent by a senior colleague in May 2019, including one asking Holland whether she wanted “toe-curling orgasmic sex”. She said the messages left her feeling “really afraid” and gave evidence that he had placed his hands on her hips at work, making her uncomfortable.

Ability West maintained that it had procedures in place and had taken reasonably practical steps, including placing the man on administrative leave before dismissing him. Its then-HR director said an investigation had upheld Holland’s sexual harassment allegations.

The HR director said he had told Holland she was not entitled to a copy of the final investigation report, but had read its findings to her. He said the man received a copy because adverse findings had been made against him and the matter was proceeding to a disciplinary process.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.