Worker Sacking Dispute: ‘English Bastard’ Remark – Irish Times
- A worker who said he only "locked horns" with a colleague as he was provoked by rebel music and being called a "English bastard" has lost a challenge...
- Management at Breffni Air Ireland Unlimited told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that it decided to dismiss the worker, Timothy Seaton, after they said he "headbutted" another worker...
- Mr Seaton did not dispute initiating the assault, but denied the headbutt, and said he only gave his colleague "a nudge" he pleaded to be let keep his...
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A worker who said he only “locked horns” with a colleague as he was provoked by rebel music and being called a “English bastard” has lost a challenge over his sacking.
Management at Breffni Air Ireland Unlimited told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that it decided to dismiss the worker, Timothy Seaton, after they said he “headbutted” another worker on 7th March, 2022.
Mr Seaton did not dispute initiating the assault, but denied the headbutt, and said he only gave his colleague “a nudge” he pleaded to be let keep his €585-a-week job in the aftermath of the incident, which saw both workers sacked, the WRC heard.
His complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was not upheld in a decision published on Monday , following a series of hearings between November 2022 and January 2024.
The company’s production manager Gary Johnston said he had noticed Mr Seaton was ”agitated” on the day of the incident, and was “provoked” by the other worker moving into his work area and “plunging his hammer into his work bench”.
Mr Johnston told the tribunal he interviewed both workers for a company examination. He said the other worker denied using the expression “English bastard”, but accepted that he “did play rebel music” in another part of the workshop.
The witness said he “hadn’t heard the rebel music being played”, though he said there had been an investigation carried out when it was put to him it was mentioned in a witness statement.
Mr Seaton walked into the other worker’s area and they “both started fighting”, Mr Johnston said.His evidence was that Mr Seaton “headbutted” the other worker and followed that with a slap to the head before he was able to separate them.
Mr Seaton was immediately suspended and both workers were sacked on foot of separate investigations, it was submitted on behalf of the business.
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The company’s operations director David O’Doherty said he decided to dismiss Mr Seaton after he “