Equal Status Act 2000
Equality Officer Decision: DEC-S2001-001
Mr John Ward & Mr Michael Ward
V
Mr Patrick Quigley, The Boathouse Pub, Portumna
(Represented by James J. Kearns & Sons, Solicitors)
File Refs: ES-2000-01 and ES-2000-02
Date of Issue 16 March 2001
Headnotes: Equal Status Act 2000 - Direct discrimination, section 3(1) - Membership of the Traveller community, section 3(2)(i) - Supply of goods and services, section 5(1) - Service in pubs - Risk of criminal and disorderly conduct, section 15(1) - Discrimination by association, section 3(1)(b)
This dispute concerns complaints by Mr John Ward and Mr Michael Ward that they were discriminated against by Mr Pat Quigley, owner of the Boathouse Pub, Portumna on the grounds that they were members of the Traveller Community. The case revolves around an incident in the Boathouse Pub, Portumna on 26 October 2000 when the complainants were only offered one drink by the publican.
The complainants maintain that they were discriminated against on the Traveller community ground in terms of sections 3(1)(a), 3(1)(b) and 3(2)(i) of the Equal Status Act 2000 in that they were not provided with a service which is generally available to the public, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Act.