€25k for cleaner as burnt toast costs job

A cleaner aged in her early 60s who lost her longstanding job over a burnt piece of toast has been awarded €25,000 for unfair dismissal.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) found that Jane Callaghan was unfairly dismissed by OCS One Complete Solutions Ltd for gross misconduct after a piece of bread she was toasting jammed in a toaster, setting off a fire alarm at the Guinness Storehouse.

Ms Callaghan was working at a function at the storehouse on April 2, 2014, and there were 360 guests in attendance, with 170 meals about to be served.