Technician fired for watching TV on the job loses claim

A FORMER technician at the Whitegate Oil Refinery has lost his claim that he was unfairly sacked for watching TV during a critical phase of the refinery’s operations.

The employment appeals tribunal ruled the conduct of Liam Joyce of Ballincole, Dungourney, Co Cork, in watching TV during a high-risk, start-up phase at the refinery constituted substantial grounds amounting to gross misconduct. As a result, the EAT found Whitegate Ireland, the company operating the refinery, was justified in firing Mr Joyce.

It heard the refinery had been shut down for the first time in five years and was undergoing start-up in November 2006 at the time of the events that led to Mr Joyce’s dismissal.