Labour Court dismisses Anne Mason’s pregnancy discrimination claim against Winston’s Jewellers

The Labour Court dismissed Anne Mason’s claim that Winston’s Jewellers discriminated against her because she was pregnant, finding that her dismissal was due to a genuine redundancy. The determination was dated 20 January 2003. Mason said she was dismissed while on pregnancy-related sick leave after telling the employer she was pregnant and planning to return early from maternity leave for the Christmas period. The Court found that financial difficulties linked to new competition in Swords justified reducing staff and that Mason was the shortest-serving employee. It also criticised the way her dismissal was handled, saying her personal circumstances had not been considered, but found the redundancy was unconnected with her pregnancy.