The Labour Court rejected David F. Matthews’s appeal against a finding that ESB T/A ESB Networks did not victimise him. The determination was signed on 19 May 2016.
Matthews alleged that after making an earlier equality complaint he faced adverse treatment, including withheld expenses and the disconnection of his mobile phone. ESB said tighter financial controls applied across the company after the financial crisis, and that the phone was disconnected after Matthews retired and did not answer attempts to contact him about bills incurred on the company’s behalf.
The Court found that expense procedures had been tightened across the company. It found that payments were withheld when Matthews did not provide the required details and paid when he did. The Court concluded that the treatment was not a response to his earlier complaint and that ESB had not victimised him. It found the complaint was not well founded and did not allow the appeal.