Barrister says legal filings in whistleblower case got lost in tribunal’s 'spam folder'

A whistleblower penalisation claim against Mayo County Council heard at the Workplace Relations Commission has been adjourned after legal submissions from the complainant's legal team went missing in the tribunal's spam folder. Former firefighter Vincent Maughan is pursuing complaints of constructive dismissal and whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The case was scheduled to commence with evidence on 3 December 2024, but adjudicator Patsy Doyle reported having received no legal filings despite issuing directions six months prior. The claimant's barrister revealed that submissions had been sent by email on 26 October but apparently filtered into the tribunal's spam system. Ms Doyle cancelled two days of scheduled hearings and ordered an in-person hearing to proceed, citing additional procedural issues regarding stenography and transcript sharing.