Visually impaired nun wins case against pub

A visually impaired nun has been awarded maximum compensation in a discrimination case by Dublin District Court after she and her guide dog were thrown out of a Dublin pub.

Sr Bríd Smith was refused service and asked to leave Conway's pub and restaurant in Blackrock, Dublin, in May 2004, because she was accompanied by her guide dog, the court heard.

She was yesterday awarded €6,300, the maximum compensation allowed under equality legislation.

Sr Bríd arrived at the pub at 4.30pm and attempted to order a cup of coffee. However, staff refused to serve her and she was told to "get out" by an employee, she told the court.

She explained to the employee that she was visually impaired and was allowed by law to bring her guide dog on to the premises but the employee insisted she leave and ushered her through the door.

Sr Bríd made a written complaint to the pub owners. Although a number of letters were exchanged, she felt they had not accepted responsibility for the incident and did not make any effort to resolve the matter amicably or apologise to her.

Sr Bríd brought a discrimination case on the disability ground to the District Court under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. She was represented by the Equality Authority.

Equality Authority chief executive officer Niall Crowley last night welcomed the decision and said the scale of the award was particularly significant.

"In making the maximum award allowed, the judge has sent out a clear and unequivocal message that discrimination by licensed premises is unacceptable and will prove costly to those found to have discriminated against people under the Intoxicating Liquor Act."

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 transferred jurisdiction for cases involving allegations of discrimination from the Equality Tribunal to the district court. Discrimination by a licensed premises had since accounted for a large proportion of cases dealt with by the authority, Mr Crowley said.

"Discrimination by licensed premises remains a serious issue," he added. "It affects people with disabilities as well as Travellers, gay and lesbian people, black and minority ethnic people and young and older people. The finding of and the award made by the district court today will hopefully stimulate a review of current practices within this sector."