The Labour Court set aside an €8,000 compensation award to Danielle Davis after finding that Phibsboro Cat Rescue had not discriminated against her on disability grounds. In a determination dated 6 September 2023, the court overturned the first-instance decision that had upheld her complaint of discrimination and discriminatory dismissal.
Davis said the charity refused her request to work from home after sick leave and dismissed her because of depression. The charity said she was dismissed during probation because she was unsuitable for the role. The court found the home-working request arose from health concerns after Covid-19, and the employer was not then on notice of her disability.
The court attributed the dismissal primarily to the deteriorating relationship between Davis and her manager, and said both contributed to it. It found no causal link between her disability and either the refused request or her dismissal.