Drug test row air traff ic controller is ‘back at work’

Dublin Airport worker launched online petition after disputing ‘Class A’ results

AN AIR traffic controller is ‘back at work’ after he claimed he was ‘wrongly dismissed’ having been accused of ‘knowingly taking a Class A party drug’, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

Adam Hyland, who works as an air traffic controller at Dublin Airport, started a petition on Change.org last month, where he claimed the accusation followed a ‘highly conspicuous and improperly conducted’ urine test.

Mr Hyland started the online petition after he was dismissed from his highly skilled job following the test arranged by his employer, AirNav Ireland.

He told how two other ‘more accurate’ hair follicle tests came back negative for any toxicity – but despite this he claimed he was ‘hastily let go’ from ‘his hard-earned’ career.

However, his online petition was removed in recent days, and when contacted by the MoS this week, Mr Hyland said the issue had been ‘resolved internally’ and he was now back at work.

The petition posted late last month claimed that, on December 4, 2023, Mr Hyland was ‘wrongfully dismissed’ from his job as an air traffic controller.

‘The accusation is that I knowingly took a Class A party drug... It is based on the result of a highly conspicuous and improperly conducted urine test.

‘Several other colleagues described issues with the testing processes on the day.’

Mr Hyland did two more ‘selffunded’ tests, which came back negative for drugs.

‘Despite then undergoing two more accurate self-funded hair follicle tests (one through AirNav

Ireland themselves) which came back negative for any toxicity, I was hastily let go from my hard-earned career of the past six years,’ he said.

‘In spite of meeting with management to explain my side of events, no compassion nor consideration were given to my version of events, i.e. the truth. I am now having to appeal to fight for my career, after already having endured three months of punishment for a crime I did not commit.’

Mr Hyland said: ‘The detrimental effects to my wellbeing during this bizarre and unprecedented time cannot be underestimated.’

‘If this horrendous situation could have happened to me, it could easily happen to anyone else in the workforce in future.

‘Let AirNav Ireland know that we deserve better.

‘By signing my petition, you agree to provide a character reference for me to help me to resecure my career. Many thanks in advance for your support. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. I have absolutely nothing to hide.’

When contacted by the MoS this week, Mr Hyland said the issue has now been ‘resolved’.

He said: ‘It has been resolved. I thought that [the petition] had been removed. It has all been resolved internally. You can disregard the petition.’ Mr Hyland subsequently asked that the story about his dismissal not be reported.

He said: ‘I am just concerned because I am just after fixing this case of misconduct against me and obviously I got that all resolved and now I am concerned that if a story comes out and my name is attached, that is further misconduct and therefore all of this hard work is gone to waste.’

Asked if he meant he had been rehired, he said: ‘Yeah, that’s it, and that’s why I don’t want something to come out in the paper because that is misconduct again so after all the hard work I will be back up for more disciplinary. I definitely would be pleading for you not to [write the story] because it will spoil everything I’ve worked for.’

A spokesman for AirNav told the MoS it had no comment, adding: ‘Safety is our number one priority and all AirNav operations are performed in line with EASA and ICAO safety regulations and requirements.’

‘I was hastily let go from my hard-earned career’