The Labour Court awarded Donna Millett €18,000 after finding that her dismissal was direct discrimination because she was pregnant. It dated its determination 16 February 2004.
Millett worked as a medical secretary for Charles Shinkwin, an ENT consultant with a practice at Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. She said her treatment changed after she told him she was expecting twins. Shinkwin denied that her pregnancy affected his attitude and said he had accepted her resignation before she tried to withdraw it.
The Court found Millett's account of the critical events substantially correct. It concluded that she had not made a fully informed decision to resign and had withdrawn her resignation within a reasonable time. Shinkwin's refusal to let her continue working therefore amounted to a dismissal. The Court found that the dismissal was because of her pregnancy and ordered Shinkwin to pay compensation of €18,000.