Labour Court upholds €7,500 recommendation over Garda bullying complaint handling

The Labour Court upheld a recommendation that An Garda Síochána pay a worker €7,500 compensation after mishandling and delaying an internal workplace bullying complaint. The Court’s decision was dated 23 June 2026. The worker’s complaint against a supervisor was investigated twice, but both investigations were set aside because of procedural flaws. The employer then closed the process without a final finding on whether the underlying bullying complaint was valid. An Garda Síochána accepted that it had not dealt with the complaint promptly or professionally, citing a pause in the process and other factors. The Court said the handling and delay fell short of what it expected from a professional organisation. It recommended compensation for the failure to investigate the complaint properly and the time taken. The employer’s appeal failed, leaving the Adjudication Officer’s €7,500 recommendation in place. The worker was represented by the Garda Representative Association.