Alucraft ordered to pay Darragh O'Shea €1,597 for unfair dismissal

The Workplace Relations Commission found that Alucraft Limited unfairly dismissed window installer Darragh O'Shea and ordered the company to pay him €1,597 compensation. The decision was dated 5 April 2024. O'Shea said he had not been properly trained to dismantle an alloy tower and challenged the investigation and disciplinary process. Alucraft said his serious safety breach justified dismissal and that the process was fair. The parties accepted that O'Shea dismantled the tower while standing on its unguarded frame on an eighth-floor balcony. The adjudicator said his conduct posed serious risks, but found that Alucraft had not given him full details of the charge or made sure he knew he could have a trade union official represent him. Those procedural failings made the dismissal unfair. The adjudicator also found that O'Shea contributed significantly to his dismissal. He began a new job about a week later, earning about €80 less per week, and had not looked for other work. The €1,597 award was approximately two weeks' pay.