Man sacked days after mother-in-law's death awarded €5,000

A man who was sacked from a Kildare company three days after his mother-in-law died has been awarded €5,000 in compensation.

Daniel Byrne from Graiguecullen, in Carlow said he had worked with Kleentech without ever receiving any disciplinary warnings or complaints.

But he was told on August 23 last year that he was being let go, just three days after he rang the company to inform them of the death of his mother-in-law.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal found that Kleentech had failed to produce any corroborative evidence to justify Mr Byrne’s dismissal and awarded him €5,000 in compensation.

The company, which is based in Castledermot, Co Kildare, supplies and fits the PVC wall and floor coverings used in the fast food and catering sector.

Kleentech told Mr Byrne last August that there had been a downturn in business and that they would try to get him a job elsewhere.

It was also claimed to the tribunal that there had been complaints by clients about its work.

The tribunal heard that Mr Byrne did not return to work to serve out his month’s notice.

He said that he had always something to do at the company and was never told that his work was not up to scratch.