Security guard sacked for theft said it was due to medication

A SECURITY guard was sacked for stealing after his employer refused to accept he had repeatedly forgotten to pay for goods due to the effects of medication.

An adjudication hearing of the Workplace Relations Commission heard that the former employee had admitted taking the goods at the end of his shift but claimed that had simply forgotten to pay for them.

However, rejecting the man’s unfair dismissal claim, adjudication officer Emile Daly said: ‘I find it implausible that the complainant, each time, would have forgotten to pay for the goods.’

The man’s explanation was supported by medical evidence showing that he was on medication and was suffering from clinical depression, which could result in forgetfulness.

However, his former employer – a retail premises in the Midlands – had refused to accept his explanation.

It said the security guard had admitted to taking goods without paying for them on a number of previous occasions and forgetfulness could not explain a series of incidents.

He had therefore been dismissed in November 2015 after 15 years of employment. The security guard subsequently brought a case for unfair dismissal. However, adjudication officer Ms Daly concluded: ‘I accept the finding of misconduct and the reasons relied on to dismiss the complainant were reasonable.’