The Labour Court has allowed Mayo County Fire Service’s appeal and set aside a €9,500 award to Tom Kitterick after finding no age discrimination. The decision was signed on 6 July 2026.
Kitterick said the service should have extended his employment after he turned 60, particularly as a higher retirement age was later introduced. The service said the age limit in force at the time was justified by firefighting’s physical demands and left it no discretion to extend his employment.
The Court found the retirement policy was justified and proportionate, and that the later change did not apply retrospectively. The €9,500 award made at first instance was set aside; the Labour Court made no new award.