Nun’s unfair dismissal claim against school overturned

A NUN lost her claim of unfair dismissal from a primary school as the judge said she was appointed through the legal contrivance of not having to compete for her job and she had to accept the rules when the job ended.

Sr Maria O’Sullivan of Grange Way, Pinecroft, Grange, Douglas, Cork, worked at the Presentation Primary School in Bandon, Co Cork, from 1991 until she lost her job in August 2006. At Cork Circuit Court yesterday it was claimed by her barrister, Sheila O’Kelly, that she lost her job after her provincial leader, Sr Mary Hoare, withdrew her nomination from the school saying she should take a career break because of a previously stressful situation.

The claim made by Ms O’Kelly BL was that Sr O’Sullivan, who is still a Presentation Sister in full- time employment as a primary school teacher in another school, was not given fair procedure and was entitled to the protection of her contract.