DEC-S2001-013
Equal Status Act 2000
Equality Officer Decision: DEC-S2001-013
Greg Scanlon & Kevin Ryan
V
The Russell Court Hotel
Key words:Equal Status Act 2000 - Direct discrimination, section 3(1) - Discrimination on the Age ground, section 3(2)(f) - Treatment of persons under 18, section 3(3) - Supply of goods and services, section 5(1) - Admission to a Hotel Nightclub - Establishment of a prima facie case - Risk of disorderly conduct, section 15(1) - Action taken in good faith under Licensing Acts, section 15(2) - Drawing of inferences, section 26
This dispute concerns complaints by Mr Greg Scanlon and Mr Kevin Ryan that they were discriminated against, contrary to the Equal Status Act 2000, by the Management of the Russell Court Hotel, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. The complainants maintain that they were discriminated against on the ground of age in terms of sections 3(1) and 3(2)(f) of the Equal Status Act 2000 in not being granted admission to a function in the hotel on 31 December 2000.The respondents deny that they operate a discriminatory policy on the grounds of age. They say that they always act in good faith and that, from time to time, admission is refused when there are legitimate concerns on the part of Management relating to compliance with the Licensing Acts. In this case the respondents stated that some of the complainants' group were unable to produce valid proof of age.