When people start talking about their pension, you know that they are old, or else old before their time.

Despite 39 years of work during which he paid about €78,000 in accumulated pension contributions into the retirement fund, Seán Maher was looking at a pension of €50 or €60 per week once he reached 65, thanks to the “double insolvency” that hit Waterford Crystal in 2009.

Ten former Waterford Crystal workers have won a court battle against the Government over losses in their pensions.