TWO FRUIT FARMS GUILTY OF LABOUR LAW OFFENCES
JIM FRANKLIN was the life and soul of his 80th birthday party at the Horse & Hound in Ballinaboola earlier this month.
Jim was joined by his wife Mai, nephews Martin and Kieran, nieces Catherine, Bernadette and Cathy and grandnieces, grandnephews, and many friends from Raheen Active Retirement Club and Clonroche.
A former foreman for New Ross Town Council on roads across the district Jim, who is a massive Manchester United INVESTIGATIONS into a couple of fruit farms in the Enniscorthy area led to labour law prosecutions dealt with at the District Court in Gorey.
Before the court were Philip Somers of Townamullogue, Courtnacuddy and Wheelock Fruits Limited of Finchogue, Enniscorthy.
Inspectors from the workplace relations commission called last year and discovered problems with the treatment of fruit pickers hired to bring in the strawberry crop.
Inspector Paula Coogan arrived at Somers’ premises in August to find that workers were being given weekly pay-slips but they received their money only after fan, enjoyed a great night, with his wife entertaining everyone with her fantastic voice.
From Millquarter, Ballinaboola, Jim enjoyed a sit down dinner and music.
Jim, a teetotaller, was one of the final people to leave the a considerable delay.
There was confusion as to how many people were working on the farm.
Only seven employees were listed as registered employees but there appeared to be 17 people present. They included a 12-year-old girl. Ms Coogan was told that the child was simply in the field with her mother and father but her name appeared on ‘pick sheets’ recording how much fruit each worker brought in.
When the inspector called once more in November, she confirmed that weekly pay-slips had been issued but money was handed over monthly.
An undertaking was given that the party having enjoyed the perfect night with family and friends.
On the short journey home, which he has driven thousands of times, the clutch went on his car, making the night even more memorable for the Ballinaboola man. business would no longer employ young people illegally.
Records relating to national minimum wage and the protection of young person were not in order.
The barrister representing the farmer assured Judge Gerard Haughton that her client had since ‘mended his hand’ and steps had been taken to ensure no repeat of what occurred.
A similar approach was adopted in the investigation of Wheelock Fruits Limited, with an inspection in August of last year followed by a meeting with Margaret and Cyril Wheelock in November at the offices of Hughes Blake.
The inspection found that teenagers were employed on fruit stalls but that protection of young persons records were not kept properly.
Records on pay and minimum wage were not available, while employees had not been provided with written terms and conditions of their employment.
The court was assured by counsel that no deliberate breaking of the law was intended and that everything was now in order.
Judge Gerard Haughton noted guilty pleas in both cases and adjourned to the new year to allow the defendants produce evidence to show that they are now compliant with the requirements, as claimed in court. A FINE of €300 was imposed in the District Court on Michael Connors of 33 Canon Murphy Park, Clonroche as registered owner of a vehicle found illegally parked on Templeshannon Quay in Enniscorthy on March 27.
Investigating Garda Cathal Burke found that the offending motor was in the space marked out as a bus stop, which resulted in a coach which was waiting to park partially blocking the road. A €300 FINE was handed down in the case of John Berry from 7 Raheen, New Ross for a motor tax offence at Marsh Lane on February 22.
Garda Dene O’Gorman told the District Court how he inspected the absent accused’s silver Ford Transit at 11.30 on the morning in question.