An Garda Síochána discriminated against Garda Siobhán McCoy because of her pregnancy during a Detective Garda selection process, the Workplace Relations Commission found. In a decision dated July 13, 2023, it ordered €10,000 compensation.
McCoy was 36 weeks pregnant when interviewed in August 2020. She scored lower than in a 2019 interview with the same panel and was not selected for the successful candidates’ panel. An Garda Síochána denied discrimination, saying the scores reflected her performance against the competencies.
The adjudication officer found flaws in the interview process, including that the panel assessed candidates after completing all interviews and did not test its assumption that McCoy was nervous. The officer concluded that pregnancy influenced her marks.
The WRC also considered McCoy’s claim that she was discriminated against because she was a parent. It found that complaint not well founded: six successful candidates had children, and the evidence did not show that parenthood harmed her chances. The €10,000 award was for the effect of the gender discrimination and is not subject to PAYE, PRSI or USC deductions.