A Co Galway vet has been ordered to pay £1,000 by the Labour Court to his former secretary for distress and loss when she was dismissed after becoming pregnant. It is one of the first cases under the 1997 Employment Equality Act, which provides additional protection to pregnant women in the workplace.
Ms Tara Mannion told the court she started working for Mr Thomas Rennick, of Church View, Tuam, in February 1996, as a secretary and receptionist. She received no complaints about her work until she told Mr Rennick she was pregnant.
She was ill during her pregnancy and in hospital for about three weeks. She was dismissed on June 29th, 1996.
Ms Mannion claimed Mr Rennick became rude and abusive after she told him she was pregnant. He complained he would have to hire a replacement during her maternity leave, as it coincided with the lambing season, which was a busy time for him. Mr Rennick said that the termination of Ms Mannion's employment had not been due to her pregnancy. She had been hired on six months probation and had only worked four months. She had refused to improve her attitude to work or clients.