Victimised pregnant employee wins €52k from newspaper group

A pregnant woman whose employer tried to make her redundant while she was on maternity leave and cut off her mobile phone and internet access while she was in labour has been awarded €52,000.

Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd has been ordered to pay former employee Mary Murphy the equivalent of one year’s pay to compensate for distress caused by victimisation and discrimination.

Fanning and Kelly, solicitors for the company, said they intended to appeal the award.