Labour Court upholds rejection of Thomas Duffy’s out-of-time dismissal claim

The Labour Court rejected Thomas Duffy’s appeal and upheld the finding that his unfair dismissal claim was out of time. The Court dated its determination 25 February 2022; the merits were not decided. Duffy’s employment with Pallas Foods/Pallas Foods Unlimited Company ended on 25 September 2019. He lodged his claim on 25 March 2020, one day beyond the six-month limit. His representative cited ill health, personal circumstances, confusion about the dismissal and disruption from Covid-19. The Court said no evidence of Duffy’s medical status during the relevant period had been submitted, and no adequate explanation was given for not filing after he corresponded with the company in January 2020. It held the claim statute-barred and could not proceed to hear the unfair dismissal case.