Equality Law

The High Court has determined that a woman who was handed an envelope containing a P45 without any explanation whilst on sick leave during her pregnancy was the subject of discrimination and did not have to make further enquiries as to whether this constituted a dismissal. Delivering judgment for th

Irish lawyer Tara O'Leary has been appointed to the panel of counsel for Great Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Ms O'Leary, originally from Co Kerry, qualified as a barrister in England and Wales in 2014. She holds an LLB in law and European studies from the University of Limer

Members of the public have been urged to contribute to an inquiry into gaps in equality legislation in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly's committee for the Executive Office is undertaking an inquiry into differences in equality legislation between Northern Ireland, other parts of the

A disability discrimination claim brought by a person with a serious visual impairment against a healthcare service which insisted on communicating appointment dates through letters has been settled. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission provided legal assistance to the person in respect of

Six Irish Travellers have settled a race discrimination case against a Co Tyrone inn for £24,000 with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The group of family and friends visited the Ryandale Inn in May 2023 where they planned to have a meal. When they attempted to order

A deaf woman who was effectively refused access to a public service with the assistance of an Irish Sign Language interpreter has settled a disability discrimination claim with the assistance of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The woman attempted to access the service over the teleph

Holiday park operator Pontins has been ordered by Britain's equality watchdog to stop unlawfully discriminating against Irish Travellers, including by rejecting guests with Irish names and accents. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has served the company with an unlawful act notice aft

Kane Tuohy managing partner Cómhnall Tuohy and trainee solicitor Jim Gibbons consider a recent case on retirement and discrimination. In Thomas Doolin v Eir Business Eircom Limited ADJ-00045261 the complainant, Mr Doolin, brought a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) un

A blind man who made a complaint of disability discrimination against his bank has secured a settlement with legal assistance from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The man experienced ongoing difficulties in using the online banking services of a high-street bank. His first difficulty

A restaurant in Belfast has been ordered to pay £20,000 to an Irish Traveller family who were unlawfully discriminated against by being asked to leave. The Joyce family brought the Cuisine Buffet restaurant on York Street to court with support from the Equality Commission.

The Labour Court wrongly dismissed a claim made against the Irish Prison Service by a black prison officer who was racially abused by prisoners, the High Court has ruled. Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan last week ruled that the Labour Court had reached "effectively a bald conclusion without an expression

A hotel has been ordered to pay €11,000 to a family who suffered unlawful anti-Traveller discrimination when they were refused access for confirmation celebrations. Margaret O'Sullivan, her sister and her partner, who were represented by FLAC, made discrimination complaints to the Workplace Rel

Nearly 500 employment equality complaints were received by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in the first half of 2023, with disability, gender and race making up the bulk of complaints. Figures published by the WRC show that it received 466 employment equality complaints and 222 equal status

Northern Ireland legislators should "proceed with caution" to ensure that any new legislation tackling discrimination and inequality in the workplace builds on the success of the fair employment laws introduced three decades ago, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has said. The watchdog to

A public consultation is seeking views on Northern Ireland's race legislation ahead of a planned overhaul.