Labour Court affirms Beaumont Hospital decision after Somy Thomas misses appeal hearing

The Labour Court affirmed a decision that Somy Thomas’s race discrimination complaint against Beaumont Hospital was not well founded after she did not attend her appeal hearing; the merits were not decided. The determination was dated 11 January 2024. Ms Thomas had appealed the Adjudication Officer’s finding on her complaint under the Employment Equality Acts. Beaumont Hospital attended with representatives and witnesses, prepared to defend the appeal. The Court said it had offered Ms Thomas the option of attending by video link, but she did not appear in person or online. The Court said the appeal failed because Ms Thomas did not appear to move it. It affirmed the original decision, which meant the finding that her complaint was not well founded remained in place. The Court did not reconsider whether the hospital had discriminated against her.