A Dublin bar worker sacked for allegedly selling cannabis to colleagues while at work has been awarded €3,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
It found that Mr Mark Dunphy, Decies Road, Ballyfermot, was unfairly dismissed by his employer, Woodnor Investments, of Crumlin Road.
Two lounge staff in the bar which employed Mr Dunphy told management they had given him €20 and €30 respectively for hashish. The tribunal was told Mr Dunphy had denied this, saying hashish was not sold in amounts of €20.
In evidence he admitted smoking hashish at home and that he had smoked it on odd occasions in the cellar of the pub where he worked. He had shared joints with one of the two staff who had made the allegations against him, but had not sold drugs on the premises, he said.
The tribunal heard, in evidence given on behalf of the firm, that Mr Dunphy was first interviewed about the allegation by his manager and a garda acting in a private capacity. He was suspended on full pay and finally dismissed after two further meetings with management.
In a decision just published, the tribunal said no direct evidence had been adduced before it that Mr Dunphy had sold drugs on or in the vicinity of the premises where he worked, or that he had intimidated witnesses.
It awarded €3,000 in compensation.
