Unfairly fired chicken factory worker gets €50k

A CHICKEN factory worker from Co Mayo has been awarded more than €50,000 after being wrongfully dismissed from his job amid claims that he had improperly given out painkillers to other workers.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) dismissed an appeal by Western Brand Chickens of Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, against a ruling by a rights commissioner that the company had unfairly sacked one of its employees, Noel Conroy. The EAT ruled that the company’s procedures in dismissing Mr Conroy were “entirely unfair and unreasonable”.

The financial controller of Western Brand Chickens claimed Mr Conroy of Larganboy East, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, was fired for a number of irregularities, including misuse of petty cash, the improper use of medication in the workplace and theft.