The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found Sandra Aungier’s age discrimination complaint against University College Dublin was not well founded. In a decision dated 15 November 2023, it found she had not established an initial case of discrimination over an Assistant Professor appointment or a later meeting about promotion options.
Aungier, a Special Lecturer/Tutor, said she was told age prevented her promotion and that age had influenced the earlier recruitment decision. UCD said another applicant scored highest for the Assistant Professor post and that the later meeting concerned budget constraints and vacancies. The adjudication officer preferred UCD witnesses’ account of the meeting and found no evidence of continuing discrimination.
A prima facie case means enough initial evidence to support an inference of discrimination. The officer found that threshold was not met, and ruled that Aungier had not been discriminated against on age grounds.