The Labour Court rejected Ms Mary Brown's equal pay appeal against Eason & Son Limited. Its determination was signed on 3 March 2003. The Court found that Brown had not been discriminated against in pay under the Employment Equality Act, 1998.
Brown worked 22.5 hours a week as a part-time sales assistant and received €2.29 a week in service pay; her full-time comparator received €3.80. Brown argued the payment should depend on years of service alone and that reducing it according to hours worked disadvantaged women. Eason & Son said both employees were subject to the same criteria and received the same hourly rate. The Court found the same service and hours rules applied to both and that their pay was equal relative to hours worked.