A member of the Traveller Community has been awarded €5,000 for what an Equality Tribunal officer has described as one of the worst cases of discrimination he has ever encountered.
The award was made against Elroy's nightclub in Carraigaline, Co Cork, after it barred Ms Kathleen O'Driscoll from entering its premises upon learning she was a member of the Traveller Community.
Previously, Ms O'Driscoll had been a frequent patron of the club over a two-year period. But she was refused entry on two ocassions - in February and March 2001.
The premises is under new management since the incidents took place.
Ms O'Drisocll was awarded €5,000 in compensation today - the highest award allowable - for humiliation, loss of amenity and distress.
Ms O'Driscoll claimed she was identified as a Traveller after a painter had come to work on her house. The painter disovered she was a Traveller in the course of conversation and told a friend who worked at Elroys.
Elroys contended Ms O'Driscoll was drunk but did not produce any evidence or witnesses before the tribunal. The club also failed to respond to a solicior's letter informing them of the discrimination claim.
The management at the club, represented by Mr Eric Treacy, was also found culpable because no specific instructions had been given to door staff regarding the provisions of the Equal Status Act 2000.
The tribunal linked the doorstaff of the club to the subsequent "shameful and disgraceful treatment" Ms O'Driscoll and her daughter suffered at the hands of the community, although they were not held liable.
In making his finding, Equality Officer Mr Brian Byrne said: "This to me is the worst form of discrimination. Here we have a woman who, having chosen to bring up her child as part of the settled community, suddenly finds that she and her daughter are being ostracised by people she had previously had a good relationship with, solely as a result of them learning of her Traveller background.
"I consider that the actions of the doorstaff in Elroys in February and March 2001 and the subsequent treatment of Ms O'Driscoll and her daughter by some adults and children in Carraigaline, can only be described as discrimination of the highest order," Mr Byrne said.