WRC finds Pepper Finance age discrimination complaint not well founded

The Workplace Relations Commission declared Sean Connolly’s age discrimination and harassment complaint against Pepper Finance Corp (Ireland) Dac not well founded. The complaint concerned the lender’s pursuit of mortgage repossession proceedings, which Connolly said involved enforcement of an age discriminatory mortgage term. In a decision dated 23 February 2026, WRC Adjudication Officer Ewa Sobanska found no evidence that Pepper began the repossession proceedings because of Connolly’s age or treated him less favourably than a comparable person of a different age. The officer also found no evidence that he experienced unwanted conduct on the age ground, and concluded he had not established a prima facie case of discrimination or harassment. Connolly said the complaint related to proceedings at Cork Circuit Court on 23 October 2024 and argued that enforcing the mortgage amounted to age discrimination and harassment. Pepper denied the claims, saying it acted because the mortgage was in default and Connolly had not engaged with efforts to discuss repayment arrangements. The officer said the challenge to the original 2005 mortgage term fell outside the statutory time limits. No award was recorded.