The claimant claimed that she had been automatically unfairly dismissed for a reason relating to her maternity leave, contrary to Article 131 of the Employment Rights (NI) Order 1996. Secondly, the claimant claimed this decision was informed by unlawful discrimination on the grounds that the claimant had exercised her right to maternity leave, contrary to Article 5A of the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976 (as amended). Thirdly, and in the alternative, the claimant also claimed that her dismissal was unfair in the “ordinary” sense under Article 126 of the Employment Rights (NI) Order 1996.

The claimant made various allegations of ‘historical incidents of sex discrimination’ which the respondent claimed were out of time. Surrounding allegations were made of a