Civilian Garda driver Tom Ronan wins age discrimination case over mandatory retirement at 70
Tom Ronan, a civilian driver for An Garda Síochána, won a Workplace Relations Commission ruling that the State failed to justify his mandatory retirement at 70, as his pension of under €400 per week would leave him in financial hardship. He was ordered to be re-engaged as a driver for three years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 Nov
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Nov
Key facts
consolidated from all reports23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe four daughters took to sleeping together to escape their father's advances. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father put the 14-year-old under duress to withdraw her complaint. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe daughter was forced to apologise to her father for what was deemed a false accusation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe spied on the girls through keyholes of bathrooms. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man denied all wrongdoing when arrested in January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man pleaded guilty to sample counts. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTom Ronan was a civilian driver for An Garda Síochána who was made to retire at 70. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Workplace Relations Commission upheld his age discrimination complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was left with less than €400 a week to live on after retirement. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHis civil service pension was worth €88.65 a week and his private pension was paying €19.23 a week. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe father abused the girls in their bedrooms, at his workplace, and at the home of their grandfather and great grandparents. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man started sexually abusing his children in 2005. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending continued for over 15 years until 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe siblings realised in 2020 that their father was abusing them all. (irishtimes.com)
- whenHe was retired from his position on 27 March 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenHe started work with the Department of Justice in January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTusla became involved in 2012 when the 14-year-old daughter made a complaint. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA garda investigation commenced in April 2021 when a complaint was made. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was charged with 128 counts of sexual assault, attempted rape, rape and attempted sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe man was jailed for 17.5 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when the man first entered custody in October 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceAn Garda Síochána was given four weeks to re-engage Mr Ronan as a driver and extend his employment for three years. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Nov2024Civilian driver for An Garda Síochana wins right to work after 70 because pension was so small he faced poverty
Reports the Workplace Relations Commission's decision upholding Tom Ronan's age discrimination complaint and ordering An Garda Síochána to re-engage him for three years.
victim, Tom Ronan, 70, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Ronan - 15 Nov2024‘House of horrors’: Father jailed for rape and abuse of his four daughters in their family home
Sentencing report from the Central Criminal Court in Cork. The man was charged with 128 counts and pleaded guilty to sample counts. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 17.5 years, backdated to when he first entered custody in October 2024. The court heard detailed evidence of the 15-year campaign of abuse, including a 2012 complaint by a 14-year-old daughter that was withdrawn under duress.
suspect, late 40s, malevictim, 14 (in 2012), femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female