WRC rejects Ulster Bank worker’s complaints after finding settlement barred them

The Workplace Relations Commission found Brendan Flanagan’s complaints against Ulster Bank Ireland Designated Activity Company were not well founded, ruling that a settlement agreement prevented it from examining their merits. The decision was dated 6 September 2024. Flanagan said his redundancy dismissal was not genuine and followed a protected disclosure, and that he signed the agreement under duress. The bank argued that the agreement waived his claims. The WRC found he understood the agreement, had four weeks to consider it and freely chose to sign. The complaints concerned unfair dismissal, protected disclosures and the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act. The bank had paid €145,543 under the settlement; this was not a new WRC award. The merits were not decided.