Labour Court cuts Reilly Scaffolding dismissal compensation to €2,000

The Labour Court reduced compensation for an unfair dismissal from €3,000 to €2,000 after Reilly Scaffolding appealed a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The Court’s decision was dated 28 February 2009 and found, on balance, that an unfair dismissal had occurred. The worker’s union said Reilly Scaffolding had not helped him return to work after an accident and later issued him a P45 backdated to October 2007. The company denied dismissing him, said it had no record of an accident, and said he failed to attend a job offered in December 2007 and later requested a P45. The Labour Court said the accounts conflicted and no documentation had been supplied, but concluded that an unfair dismissal occurred. It considered €2,000 a more appropriate level of compensation and varied the recommendation accordingly.