WRC rejects retained firefighter’s age discrimination complaint against Galway County Council

A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found Denis Hackett was not discriminated against after Galway County Council refused to extend his employment as a retained firefighter beyond age 60. The decision was dated 13 May 2025. Hackett argued that the Council’s retirement limit was inconsistently applied, pointing to another firefighter’s six-month continuation after age 60. The Council said that exception was made to maintain emergency cover during industrial action. The adjudicator accepted that the single exception was justified by contingency planning and found Hackett had not established facts from which discrimination could be inferred. No monetary award was recorded.