The Workplace Relations Commission found that Susan Quain was unfairly dismissed by the Board of Management of Catherine McAuley Special School and awarded her €40,000 compensation. Adjudication officer Ewa Sobanska’s decision was dated 18 December 2025.
Quain claimed that the school’s handling of her complaints made continuing to work there intolerable. The Board rejected her claim, arguing that she had chosen to leave for another career and that its conduct did not justify her resignation.
The officer found that the bullying and harassment investigation took more than four years, her child protection concerns were not properly addressed, and her grievance against the principal was never investigated. She concluded that the Board’s handling was inadequate and unreasonable, making her resignation justified.