Labour Court rejects Edward Smith’s late redundancy appeal

The Labour Court found Edward Smith’s redundancy appeal against Mathews Property Management Limited was out of time and affirmed the adjudication officer’s decision. The determination was signed on 31 August 2021; the merits of Smith’s appeal were not decided. Smith lodged his appeal on 16 April 2021, three days after the deadline. He said illness and damaged glasses affected him during the final two days of the appeal period, but the Court noted that he had given no explanation for the preceding 40 days. The Court found no exceptional circumstances to extend the time limit and said it had no jurisdiction to hear the substantive appeal. The adjudication officer had upheld Smith’s redundancy claim, based on weekly pay of €351, and the Labour Court affirmed that decision.