The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Somy Thomas’s complaints of race discrimination and victimisation against Beaumont Hospital over unsuccessful nursing promotion competitions. The decision was dated 21 May 2024.
Thomas said she was passed over because of her race and victimised after making equality complaints. The hospital denied both allegations and said candidates were assessed against standard criteria. The adjudication officer found Thomas had not established facts from which race discrimination could be inferred in the three competitions within the statutory time limit, and did not find that she had been victimised. An earlier September 2018 appointment offer to an Indian nurse was withdrawn after the union raised a qualification issue; an Irish nurse was then appointed. In the March 2019 competition, the successful candidate scored 92%, compared with Thomas’s 57%.