The Labour Court recommended that Irish Fertilizer Industries offer redundancy terms to a foreman dismissed after an alleged role in a dangerous practical joke at its Marino Point plant. The recommendation was dated 23 December 1987.
The incident involved an operative suspending himself from a hoist chain to make it appear someone had hanged. The Federated Workers Union Of Ireland said the foreman was innocently involved and criticised the company’s investigation. Irish Fertilizer Industries said he helped plan the incident and breached safety obligations. The Court considered it gross misconduct and said the company had good grounds to believe the foreman was not telling the truth about his involvement. It did not recommend reinstatement, but considered an offer of the company’s redundancy terms appropriate.