Labour Court rejects Deirdre Walsh’s safety law appeal

The Labour Court rejected Deirdre Walsh’s appeal under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, finding that the law did not allow her to receive relief for alleged penalisation that took the form of constructive dismissal. Its determination was dated 29 June 2023. Walsh said she resigned after raising concerns about obscene and degrading messages from a customer. Bridgehall Taverns Limited, trading as The Uluru Bar & Restaurant, said it barred the customer for six months and was willing to investigate a grievance, but Walsh did not use the company’s procedures. The Court said a separate award under the Unfair Dismissals Act prevented relief for the same alleged penalisation under the safety legislation. The appeal failed and the Adjudication Officer’s decision that the complaint was not well founded was affirmed; the merits were not decided.