Getting sacked for talking to Gerry Ryan must be a great conversation starter. But it's hardly a bed of roses to have your whole livelihood taken away.

A truck driver who got the sack after pulling onto a hard shoulder to talk to Gerry Ryan has got €32,000 for being unfairly dismissed.

The 39-year-old man in question, Noel Cawley, had pulled in to take a call from the now deceased broadcaster's 2fm show in 2009 because he had won a €2,000 trip to London. Sure, who wouldn't?

Everything turned a bit sour over 82 days later when he was fired for the incident after only receiving a light rap in the knuckles at the time.

Noel says he's over the moon now to get the compensation as he's been unemployed since being let go over two years ago.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) agreed he was unfairly dismissed by Target Express. Cawley had apologised to the company for taking the call, saying that he was in 'happy land' and wasn't 'thinking straight'.

"I'm happy it is behind me now and I can find work," Mr Cawley told the Irish Independent. "I feel vindicated and hope that somebody might look upon this and offer me work."