Labour Court dismisses Joseph Varley’s late appeal

The Labour Court dismissed Joseph Varley’s appeal as out of time and upheld the adjudication officer’s decision. The merits of the appeal were not decided. Varley’s 42-day appeal period expired on 7 March 2023, but he lodged his appeal on 13 March. He told the court he had been ill in late February and mistakenly thought he was still within time. He accepted that his symptoms did not prevent him completing the appeal form and that no exceptional circumstances prevented an on-time appeal. The court heard the appeal in Waterford and signed its decision on 21 November 2023.