The Workplace Relations Commission found Kim Doyle's three complaints against Prison Service Credit Union Limited not well founded after it refused her €35,000 loan application. Adjudication Officer Anne McElduff's decision was dated 18 January 2023.
Doyle said the refusal was because she was on sick leave and had a disability. The credit union said its insurance policy did not cover a loan of that size for a member on sick leave, and that its assessment found she could not demonstrate an ability to repay.
The adjudicator found Doyle had a disability and that the credit union knew or should have known about it. But she accepted that insurance requirements were the primary and objective reason for refusing the loan, and found Doyle had not shown less favourable treatment compared with an appropriate comparator.
The adjudicator also found no discrimination, victimisation or failure to provide reasonable accommodation. She said shortcomings in how the application was handled made the process more stressful, and urged the credit union to improve communication, transparency and document sharing with members.