OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EQUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
Equal Status Act 2000
EQUALITY OFFICER'S DECISION NOs: DEC-S2002- 106/111
Michael and Helen O'Brien, Jim and Christina Sherlock and John and Margaret McDonagh
(represented by the Equality Authority )
-V-
Grand Liquer Ltd (Scruples Niteclub)
(represented by Mason, Hayes and Curran, Solicitors)
File No. ES/2001/229-234
Date of Issue 9/10/2002
Key words:Equal Status Act 2000 - Direct discrimination, section 3(1)(a) - Membership of the Traveller community, section 3(2)(i) - Supply of goods and services, section 5(1) - Refusal of admission to nightclub - Membership scheme in place
This dispute concerns a complaint by Michael and Helen O'Brien, Jim and Christina Sherlock and John and Margaret McDonagh that they were discriminated against, contrary to the Equal Status Act 2000, by Scruples Nightclub. The complainants maintain that they were discriminated against on the Traveller community ground in terms of sections 3(1)(a) and 3(2)(i) of the Equal Status Act 2000 in not being provided with a service which is generally available to the public contrary to Section 5(1) of the Act.