Tribunal: Childcare worker’s dismissal was fair

A childcare worker sacked from her post after being accused of slapping a child has failed in her action for unfair dismissal.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal determined that the decision by Liam Egan, trading as Little Sunflowers Creche and Montessori, to dismiss Pamela Burke in January 2012, was not disproportionate.

Ms Burke was dismissed from the creche in Callan, Co Kilkenny, after a colleague claimed to have witnessed her slapping a child’s hand to separate the boy from another. The witness said the boy who was slapped was dragging the other child.