Labour Court declines Services Industrial Professional Technical Union claim to reinstate Irish Rail driver

In 1993, the Labour Court did not recommend reinstating an Irish Rail road freight driver dismissed after 19 newspapers were taken from customer deliveries. The recommendation was dated 19 October 1993. The driver had 27 years' service. The union said he intended to replace the papers on the return journey and sought reinstatement and compensation for lost earnings. Irish Rail said he admitted the offence, which it considered serious, and that it put the newspaper contract at risk. The Court considered the written submissions and evidence and did not recommend conceding the union's reinstatement claim. Both parties agreed that the internal disciplinary investigation had been conducted properly and fairly.