The Labour Court cut compensation for Richard Beashel from €22,000 to €12,000 on Stobart (Ireland) Limited’s appeal, while upholding findings that the company discriminatorily dismissed him on disability grounds and failed to provide appropriate measures to allow him to continue working. The determination was signed on 14 March 2014.
Beashel worked as a truck driver and said Stobart knew he had depression. The Court found the company failed to investigate the likely duration of his condition or what support he might need. Human Resources did not pass his medical information to the manager who decided to dismiss him; the manager told the Court that the information would have changed his decision.
Stobart argued that Beashel had an illness rather than a disability. The Court found that depression fell within the statutory definition of disability and that Beashel had notified the company. It also rejected Beashel’s objection that the appeal was statute-barred, finding that Stobart had lodged its appeal within the required time.