Equal Status Act 2000
EQUALITY OFFICER'S DECISION NO: DEC-S2001-017
Mr. Patrick Wall, Mrs. Margaret Wall, Mr. John O'Brien and Mrs. Carmel O'Brien
(represented by the Equality Authority)
V
Green Isle Hotel
(represented by Vincent & Beatty, Solicitors)
File No. ES/2001/57-60
Date of Issue 12/12/2001
Keywords:Equal Status Act 2000 - Direct discrimination, section 3(1) - Membership of the Traveller community, section
3(2)(i) - supply of goods and services, section 3(1)(a) - service in public bars - Action taken in good faith,
section 15(2) - Establishment of prima facie case - rebuttal of prima facie case.
On 6th January 2001, having had a meal at the hotel restaurant, the complainants went to the bar of the Green Isle Hotel and ordered drinks for four people. The senior barman served the drinks but the Head Barman approached the complainants and asked them to leave. The complainants claim that this was due to their membership of the Traveller Community.
The Respondent agrees that service was declined but say that this was because of an incident involving some of the complainants on 1st January, 2001. The respondent deny that refusal was based on the complainant's membership of the Traveller Community and claims that they were treated the same as non-Travellers would be treated in the same circumstances.