The Workplace Relations Commission found that Adrian O'Connor was not unfairly dismissed by Connaught Electronics Ltd T/A Valeo Vision Systems, an automotive supplier, in a decision dated 19 June 2023. O'Connor had worked as an SMT operator and complained that his dismissal for alleged gross misconduct was unfair.
The company said O'Connor bypassed a delay in the production line's automated optical inspection system, which could allow circuit boards to pass without inspection. O'Connor said his night-shift supervisor had instructed him to run the line with the delay switched off, and he disputed knowingly bypassing inspection or falsifying records.
The adjudicator accepted that a manager's earlier involvement in the investigation could have affected his view, but found that the manager had no further role after the investigation ended. She also found that O'Connor had representation, access to meeting records, an opportunity to respond and a right of appeal. The decision said dismissal fell within the range of reasonable responses given the employer's product-quality and safety concerns and O'Connor's admissions. The unfair dismissal complaint was found not well founded.