OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EQUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
Equal Status Act 2000
EQUALITY OFFICER'S DECISION NO: DEC-S2002-017
Edward O'Reilly
(Represented by Tallaght Traveller CDP)
V
The Dragon Inn Pub, Tallaght, Dublin
File No. ES/2001/407
Date of Issue 11/03/2002
Headnotes: Equal Status Act, 2000 - Direct discrimination, section 3(1)(a) - Membership of the Traveller community, Section 3(2)(i) - Disposal of goods and supply of services, Section 5(1) - Refusal of service in a pub - refused because of previous conduct - Activities not discrimination, section 15 (1) and 15 (2)
This dispute concerns a claim by Mr. Edward O'Reilly that he was discriminated against by a member of staff of the Dragon Inn Pub contrary to the Equal Status Act, 2000, on the grounds that he is a member of the Traveller community. The complainant alleges that he was discriminated against on the Traveller community ground by the respondent when he was refused service in the pub on a date in January, 2001. The respondent denies that Mr. O'Reilly was discriminated against and states that the only reason service was refused in January, 2001 was because the barman considered that Mr. O'Reilly had enough drink taken and because of a previous, potentially violent, incident involving the complainant.