The woman, then 67 and now 68, brought a case before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after she was dismissed by the unnamed solicitor’s firm in January 2018.

She told the WRC that she had told her employer that she did not want to retire when she celebrated her 67th birthday the year before.

The woman was subsequently given her notice in January 2018, even though her quality of work had not been criticised.

Finding in the woman’s favour, adjudication officer Emile Daly said: “There are 70 and 80-year olds within the labour force who are more productive, able and capable of change than some 20-year olds.

“Terminating someone’s employment, on the basis of age, is discriminatory which, unless it is objectively justified, is unlawful.”

The woman was awarded 24,000 for the age-based discriminatory dismissal, €840 for unpaid holiday pay, and €840 for not being provided her terms and conditions.