The Labour Court dismissed Frances Murphy’s appeal against a finding that her penalisation complaint against Connemara Marble Industries Ltd was not well founded. Its determination was dated 28 October 2020.
Murphy said she raised concerns with company directors about cash handling and the use of company funds in April or May 2016. She argued that later workplace actions, including her suspension, were penalisation for making a protected disclosure. Connemara Marble Industries Ltd disputed that she had made a protected disclosure and said her suspension followed a workplace confrontation and alleged misconduct.
The Court found Murphy had not established that she disclosed relevant wrongdoing in April or May 2016. It also found that her refusal to work the cash till in November 2016 did not amount to a disclosure: she had not told the company why she refused or identified wrongdoing. The Court affirmed the Adjudication Officer’s decision, upholding the finding that the complaint was not well founded.