Voluntary disability services provider must pay ex-worker €116k

A voluntary group providing disability services in the Midlands has been ordered to pay a former worker more than €116,000 after it unfairly selected her for redundancy.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal found that St Hilda’s Services for the Mentally Handicapped in Athlone, Co Westmeath, had wrongly fired its assistant general manager, Tina Brennan in Feb 2010.

Ms Brennan of Glamore, Taughmaconnel, Ballinasloe, Co Roscommon, who worked at St Hilda’s since Feb 2008 in a role that was funded by the HSE, was informed on her return to work in Feb 2010 after maternity leave that she was being made redundant without notice due to financial cutbacks in the organisation. She was given €3,384 for the termination of her job.