Donegal Hotel Fined €5,000 for Discrimination Against Traveller Guest
A Donegal hotel has been ordered to pay €5,000 in compensation to a Traveller man who was discriminated against, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has ruled.
Mulroy Woods Hotel in Milford, Co Donegal, was found to have breached the Equal Status Act 2000 by refusing to allow Martin McDonagh stay in the hotel due to his membership of the Traveller community, in August 2023.
The Case Unfolds
Mr. McDonagh initially booked several rooms for himself and family members through Booking.com for the night of August 20th, 2023. The booking was confirmed by the website, but the following day, he received a call from the hotel stating that his booking had to be cancelled due to a supposed system glitch.
Mr. McDonagh attempted to book a new room under a different surname, Fitzgerald, which was accepted without any issue. He also successfully booked rooms for other family members under their maiden names.
Despite the smooth booking process under different names, when Mr. McDonagh arrived at the hotel, he was met with no explanation for the earlier cancellation. Feeling uncomfortable, he did not stay.
Discrimination Verdict
Counsel for Mr. McDonagh argued that the hotel had used the Booking.com glitch as a pretext to discriminate against him due to his surname, which is commonly associated with the Traveller community.
The hotel was not represented at the WRC hearing. Adjudication Officer Marie Flynn ruled, based on the uncontested evidence, that Mr. McDonagh had been discriminated against and ordered the hotel to pay him €5,000 in compensation.
Standing Up for Equality
This case highlights the ongoing issue of discrimination faced by the Traveller community. It serves as a reminder that equal access to services, including accommodation, is a fundamental right.
We encourage anyone who experiences discrimination to seek help and support.