Eileen Flynn
Encyclopedia
Eileen Flynn was a teacher in New Ross
, County Wexford
who was sacked for being pregnant
while unmarried.
Eileen Flynn taught English and history at the Holy Faith Convent in New Ross. In August 1982 she was dismissed from her post. A letter sent to her by the school claimed that complaints had been made to the school by parents of pupils and said that she had rejected the schools norms of behaviour.
She was living with her partner Richie Roche, the father of her child, who was separated from his wife. (Irish law did not recognise divorce at the time). Eventually, she married Roche in 1997.
She took unfair dismissal
cases to the Employment Appeal Tribunal
and the Circuit Court
as well as to the High Court, eventually losing all cases.
The dismissal was controversial at the time, she was featured in the media and was later referred to during Dáil
and Seanad
debates, including that on the Employment Equality Bill.
She died suddenly on 9 September 2008 and her funeral was held on 12 September 2008.
Marguerite Bolger claims that such a case is still possible. Eileen Flynn herself was referred to in the Seanad debates as saying that it would still be possible to dismiss her under the legislation being debated in 1997. The case has been mentioned in discussion of church-state relations.
New Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
who was sacked for being pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
while unmarried.
Eileen Flynn taught English and history at the Holy Faith Convent in New Ross. In August 1982 she was dismissed from her post. A letter sent to her by the school claimed that complaints had been made to the school by parents of pupils and said that she had rejected the schools norms of behaviour.
She was living with her partner Richie Roche, the father of her child, who was separated from his wife. (Irish law did not recognise divorce at the time). Eventually, she married Roche in 1997.
She took unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal is the term used in UK labour law to describe an employer's action when terminating an employee's employment contrary to the requirements of the Employment Rights Act 1996...
cases to the Employment Appeal Tribunal
Employment Appeal Tribunal
The Employment Appeal Tribunal is a tribunal non-departmental public body in England and Wales and Scotland, and is a superior court of record. Its primary role is to hear appeals from Employment Tribunals in England, Scotland and Wales...
and the Circuit Court
Circuit Court (Ireland)
The Circuit Court is an intermediate level court of local and limited jurisdiction in the Republic of Ireland which hears both civil and criminal matters. On the criminal side the Circuit Court hears criminal matters tried on indictment with a judge and jury, except for certain serious crimes...
as well as to the High Court, eventually losing all cases.
The dismissal was controversial at the time, she was featured in the media and was later referred to during Dáil
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
and Seanad
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
debates, including that on the Employment Equality Bill.
She died suddenly on 9 September 2008 and her funeral was held on 12 September 2008.
Marguerite Bolger claims that such a case is still possible. Eileen Flynn herself was referred to in the Seanad debates as saying that it would still be possible to dismiss her under the legislation being debated in 1997. The case has been mentioned in discussion of church-state relations.
See also
- Education controversies in the Republic of IrelandEducation controversies in the Republic of Ireland-Eileen Flynn:In 1982 Eileen Flynn, a teacher, was sacked from her teaching post for being pregnant while unmarried.-Dunboyne Controversy:In 2002, Tomás Ó Dulaing, the headmaster of Gaelscoil Thúlach na nÓg in Dunboyne, County Meath was dismissed after a controversy over religious education in the...