A client of the FLAC Traveller Legal Service has received the maximum award in a discrimination case taken against a wedding venue.
In a clear message to both the Traveller and the business communities, a woman was, this month, awarded the maximum compensation allowed in a case adjudicated by the Workplace Relations Commission under the Equal Status Acts, 2000-2018.
The Workplace Relations Commission found in favour of a Traveller woman when she was discriminated against by a hotel wedding venue. The FLAC Traveller Legal Service provided advice and prepared written submissions for the woman who was awarded the maximum possible compensation.
The hotel in question was shown to be responsive to the woman’s initial email enquiries regarding a booking for her wedding until such time as it was established that she was a Traveller, at this point the hotel adopted a dismissive attitude towards the woman and ceased engaging with her enquiries, preventing her from making a booking.
The woman who received the award said of the result “It is a very satisfying feeling, that we as Irish Travellers do matter, and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity as is a human right afforded to all citizens of Ireland.”
Speaking about the outcome, Christopher McCann, Solicitor with FLAC’s dedicated Traveller Legal Service said, ‘We are very pleased with the outcome. Our client was subjected to humiliating treatment by the hotel in question. This decision demonstrates that those engaging in commercial life stand to be penalized if they deny their goods or services to Travellers.’
According to Eilis Barry, FLAC CEO said, ‘What we at FLAC witness through our dedicated Traveller Legal Service is that many Travellers experience great difficulties when it comes to booking venues to celebrate the important events of their lives like weddings, holy communions and funerals. The decision by the WRC today shows that this kind of practice, which essentially amounts to a kind of social apartheid, will not be tolerated.’
Ms Barry added that ‘FLAC will be writing to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to suggest the need for a code of practice in relation to access to pubs, hotels and restaurants.’
Click here for the decision.