Labour Court declines to hear late unfair-dismissal appeal

The Labour Court refused Anniela Barboza an extension to appeal her unfair-dismissal case against Cpl Solutions Ltd Covalen, leaving it without jurisdiction to hear the appeal. The decision was signed on 18 May 2026 by Deputy Chairman Niamh McGowan. Barboza lodged her appeal about 17 months after the adjudication officer’s decision, outside the 42-day limit. She relied on exceptional circumstances and had told the company within days that she intended to appeal. The court found no evidence that circumstances during the statutory period prevented her from filing on time; it did not decide the unfair-dismissal claim on appeal.