Irish Rail defeats age discrimination complaint over retirement extension

The Workplace Relations Commission found that Joseph Cunningham’s age discrimination complaint against Irish Rail was not well-founded. The decision was dated 27 September 2024. Cunningham said he had asked his station manager for a one-year extension beyond the normal retirement age of 66. Irish Rail said it had received no formal request and that members of its pension scheme retired at 66. The adjudicator found Cunningham’s account lacked credibility and documentary support, and accepted the station manager’s evidence that no extension had been requested. The WRC found no prima facie case of discrimination. No award was recorded.