Wicklow County Council wins penalisation case brought by Patrick Mooney

The Workplace Relations Commission found a penalisation complaint by Patrick Mooney against Wicklow County Council was not well-founded. Adjudication officer Valerie Murtagh issued the decision dated 17 October 2023. Mooney said he was penalised after raising workplace safety concerns, arguing that an investigation and his transfer were unfair and cost him gritting duties and overtime. The Council said an external investigation found working relationships had broken down and recommended moving him to another section. The adjudicator accepted that Mooney’s complaint raised health and safety matters and was a protected act. But she found the transfer was a reasonable response to the investigation, not retaliation. The new location was closer to his home and his employment terms and conditions remained unchanged.