Garda cocooning from Covid-19 says he was ordered back on the beat during spike

A garda with severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder has lodged complaints of disability discrimination, harassment and victimisation against the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the Minister for Justice at the Workplace Relations Commission. Garda Joseph Joyce, stationed in Longford, alleges he was ordered to return to frontline duty on 1 January 2022 contrary to medical advice during a Covid-19 surge, despite being granted special leave since April 2020 on grounds of severe health risk. He claims management ignored his general practitioner's guidance and assurances from a superintendent that he would not engage with the public, yet he was sent on foot patrol in Longford Town. Mr Joyce contends he encountered poor station hygiene, lack of sanitiser, equipment failures and subsequent claims he had breached protocols, causing work-related stress. The State disputes these allegations and argues An Garda Síochána was entitled to maintain operational capacity and that work-from-home arrangements were not sustainable. The commission has adjourned proceedings pending further evidence.