Labour Court rejects claim Athlone council retired fireman to avoid insurance obligations

In 1996, the Labour Court rejected a Services Industrial Professional Technical Union claim that Athlone Urban District Council retired a part-time fireman to avoid its personal-accident policy obligations. The recommendation was dated 24 October 1996. The union also disputed the amount and duration of payments after the worker was disabled in an accident at work. It said he should have received £77 a week for 104 weeks; the council said the local scheme provided £50 a week for up to 260 weeks. The Court found the retirement decision had been made before the accident and that the council’s position on the payment period was not unreasonable.