The Workplace Relations Commission found that Jamie McGee Gilmore was unfairly dismissed by Aaron Coughlin, who traded as Finn McCool’s Bar in Ballyshannon, and awarded him €2880 for lost wages. The award was reduced to eight weeks because the adjudicator was not satisfied that Gilmore had provided enough evidence of efforts to limit his losses.
The decision, dated 17 February 2025, also found 11 other complaints well founded, covering minimum-wage and Sunday-premium underpayments, unpaid wages, notice, rest periods, annual leave and public holidays. Two duplicate complaints were withdrawn. The respondent conceded several pay and leave claims, but disputed other complaints and said the bar had to close for remedial work after an inspection. Gilmore said the bar reopened without him being rehired.
The adjudicator found that Coughlin remained responsible for staff rights despite his limited day-to-day involvement. On the dismissal complaint, the adjudicator said Coughlin had not shown the dismissal was fair after the bar reopened without Gilmore, and that no fair procedures had been applied. The rest-break and rest-period findings likewise turned on the employer’s responsibility to explain and manage those entitlements.