A young Traveller woman was devastated when the hotel she had chosen for her wedding reception cancelled her booking, Galway Civil Circuit Court heard yesterday.
Ms Caroline Ward (24), a settled Traveller, who lives with her husband, Mr Derek Ward, in Ballinfoyle, Headford Road, Galway, said she believed the Galway Bay Hotel had cancelled her reception when it realised she was a Traveller. She sued the hotel for breach of contract.
Ms Ward gave evidence yesterday that her sister had booked the hotel for her in March 1999, and paid a £200 deposit to secure the wedding reception for March 10th, 2000.
In June 1999, Ms Ward said she received a letter from the hotel manager, stating there had been a mistake and the venue had been double-booked. She was told there were no alternative dates available and the hotel was booked for two years in advance.
Ms Ward said she got a friend to phone the hotel to look for a booking and was given a number of dates to choose from, including March 10th, 2000. She said she suffered from depression when her objection to the renewal of the hotel's licence at a subsequent annual licensing court failed.
Mr Paul McGettigan, defending, said the hotel had no problem with Mrs Ward, but it did have a difficulty with her then fiance, Mr Ward, who had been involved in the ongoing feud between members of the Ward family in Galway. Mr McGettigan referred to "pitched battles" between the Wards in Tuam, Clifden and Galway city.
Mr John O'Sullivan, who owns the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill and the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, denied his hotels discriminated against Travellers.
Mr O'Sullivan said he checked with now retired Supt Jim Sugrue at Salthill and was told of the very real potential for violence if the reception went ahead.
The hearing continues today before Judge Harvey Kenny.