€36,000 for worker fired after safety complaint

A Cork transport company has been ordered to pay a former worker more than €36,000 in compensation for illegally sacking him because he had made a complaint to the Health and Safety Authority about potentially dangerous conditions at the firm.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal ruled that Denis J Downey, a haulage and warehousing firm based at Coolmona, Donoughmore, Co Cork, wrongfully dismissed a worker because health and safety legislation prevented an employer from penalising or threatening to penalise any worker for making a complaint to a safety representative, employer, or the Health and Safety Authority about any matters relation to health, safety, and welfare at work.

The tribunal heard that Richard Doody, of The Terrace, Cecilstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was fired on Oct 30, 2010.