The Workplace Relations Commission found that the University Of Limerick discriminated against student counsellor Michael O Mahony on grounds of age when it compulsorily retired him, and ordered it to pay him €50,000 compensation.
The decision, dated 13 January 2023, says O Mahony wanted and was able to keep working until 70. The university said public service rules required it to retire him at 65.
The adjudicator found that the university had not provided evidence of the policy reasons for the retirement rule and disapplied it in O Mahony’s case. The finding was that his dismissal was discriminatory under the Employment Equality Acts and contrary to EU law.