Lazy River café co ordered to pay redundancy

A HOSPITALITY company based in Carlow has been ordered to make redundancy payments to two former employees after failing to appear at a Workplace Relations Commission hearing on 3 March.

Heather Foods and Catering Ltd operate restaurants and provides catering facilities at various locations, including The Lazy River Café in Graiguecullen. The company’s registered address is Unit 1 & 2 Castleview Quay, Graiguecullen, Carlow, Ireland, which is also The Lazy River Café’s address.

The first complainant, Oisin Hanbury, had worked as a part-time waiter from 2 December 2022 until 12 October 2025. Oisin worked an average of 20 hours a week in the year before he was dismissed, earning €12.70 an hour.

The second complainant, Shane Hanbury, had worked as a chef for the respondents from 2 July 2022 until 12 October 2025. Shane worked 40 hours a week and his gross weekly pay was €620.

Both complainants were informed that their roles were redundant and on 12 October 2025 they ceased working.

Neither complainant was given redundancy payments when they were made redundant.

Shane Hanbury wrote to the company on 20 October 2025 to confirm that his job had been made redundant due to the closure of the business.

The hearings occurred in March at the Workplace Relations Commission hearing room in Carlow. Bríd Deering served as their adjudication officer.

At Shane Hanbury’s hearing, it was said that one or more of the cafés/restaurants operated by the respondent continues to trade.

At Oisin Hanbury’s hearing, it was said that the café/restaurant where he used to work remains open, but several staff were made redundant.

In both hearings, Bríd Deering was satisfied that Heather Foods and Catering Ltd were notified of the date, time and location of the hearing and that the company was still operating as its status on the Companies Registration Office website is “normal.” 

Both hearings were told that no contact was received by or on behalf of the respondent prior to or after the hearing to indicate any difficulty with attending.

Bríd Deering ruled that Shane and Oisin Hanbury were both entitled to a redundancy lump sum as their employment had been terminated because they were made redundant.

Though the officer did not set out the amount that Shane and Oisin are entitled to, statutory redundancy payments are two weeks’ pay for every year of service and one additional week’s pay, capped at €600 a week.