‘I was horrified’: Asthmatic garda ordered back on beat during Covid-19 surge, WRC told

A veteran garda with severe asthma, Joseph Joyce, was forced back on duty during the 2022 Covid-19 surge despite medical advice, a tribunal has ruled. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) dismissed his equality complaint, stating the time gap between his return to work and filing the complaint prevented any compensation. Joyce's representative argued he was discriminated against, as he was ordered to work despite his chronic respiratory conditions and the risk of severe illness.

The State denied his claims, asserting appropriate measures were in place to protect him. Joyce maintained he would continue working from home based on medical advice until he was ordered back to work on New Year's Day 2022. He claimed local superiors failed to provide proper safety measures, including empty hand sanitizer bottles and no working radio.