Former Novartis employee awarded €40,000 for unfair dismissal

An employee of a drug company has been awarded compensation of €40,000 after a tribunal ruled he had been unfairly dismissed.

Derek Coughlan of Ballinbrittig, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, had taken his case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal after being let go by Novartis Ringaskiddy Ltd in April, 2013.

A sitting of the tribunal late last year heard Mr Coughlan had started work with Novartis as an operative on a drug project on a four-month contract in May 2011. At the time, the drug was undergoing clinical tests.