WRC dismisses Niall Buckley’s discrimination complaint after he misses hearing

The Workplace Relations Commission found Niall Buckley’s Employment Equality Act complaint against J & J Vision Care not well founded after he did not attend the hearing. The decision was dated 5 January 2023. The WRC said Buckley had notice of the hearing but did not appear or give evidence. J & J Vision Care attended and told the WRC that it was his employer; the adjudication officer amended the respondent’s name to J & J Vision Care. The WRC said Buckley had failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination, meaning he had not presented enough evidence to establish an initial case requiring an answer. The merits were not decided because Buckley did not attend.