Labour Court overturns €17,500 disability discrimination award on Connacht Gold appeal

The Labour Court overturned a €17,500 disability discrimination award to a worker after allowing Connacht Gold Co-Operative Society’s appeal. Its determination was dated 23 December 2008. The Equality Officer had found the worker was discriminated against when dismissed. He said his wife told the company’s area manager he had depression before his employment ended while he was on sick leave. The company said it did not know of his disability and cited his absence and a negative reference from a previous employer. The Court found the accounts of the call conflicted. It accepted that the wife may have referred to depression, but found no evidence she told the manager the worker had been diagnosed with it. The Court concluded the company was unaware of the disability, found no discrimination and overturned the Equality Officer’s decision.