O’Hare v Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service [2020]

The claimant was employed as a firefighter in 2006 until he was dismissed in October 2018. In March 2017 the claimant was promoted to the Learning and Development Centre where he would be a training instructor for new recruits as well as already qualified firefighters. Jacinta Russell, a colleague with whom the claimant had a romantic relationship with, was also promoted to the Learning and Development Centre at the same time.  It must be noted that this relationship had ended with the Tribunal citing that it was ‘amicable’. 

The issue that led to the dismissal of the claimant came on foot of a decision to have increased uniform inspections of the trainees.  Ms Russell was