A stable lad who was unfairly dismissed by racehorse trainer Mr Noel Meade has been awarded nearly €3,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Mr Meade conceded at a tribunal hearing that Mr Brian Gerard Cooper of St Brendan's Crescent, Greenhills, Dublin, was unfairly sacked in April last year.
Mr Cooper said that as a result of his dismissal, he had lost a share of a quarterly bonus payment to staff at Mr Meade's yard near Navan, Co Meath.
The bonus is paid under a scheme whereby the Turf Club retains 3 per cent of prize money won by horses in a yard for distribution to its employees every three months.
The tribunal was told that in the case of Mr Meade's yard, the money was divided equally among employees. As Mr Cooper had been dismissed a week before the money arrived, the remaining employees were told they could decide whether he should receive a share. They had decided he should not, so Mr Cooper did not receive his share of €400. The tribunal said it was satisfied the bonus was a "regular payment" made to Mr Cooper, and as he had been working at the yard during the relevant quarter he was entitled to a share.
It was also satisfied he had suffered loss as a result of his dismissal, and awarded him €2,850 in compensation. The circumstances of the dismissal were not referred to in the decision.
