ONLY TWO of 37 cases taken by individuals who felt they were discriminated against under employment and equal status legislation were upheld by the Equality Authority last month.
Some 25 of the 35 dismissed cases were taken by members of the Traveller community.
Of the two cases upheld, one was taken by a black man who said he was refused sale of a car because of his race. The other case was taken by a medical student who claimed he had been discriminated against by the university he attended in relation to his disability.
Harry Osemwegie was awarded €500 against Grove Car Sales after he was refused service.
He said he was told by an employee of the car dealership: “We have no cheap cars here.”
When Mr Osemwegie asked how the employee would know whether or not he wanted a cheap car, the employee responded: “Some of your friends came here before with no intention to buy.”
Mr Osemwegie said he understood the reference to “your friends” as being black people in general and the employee gave him the clear impression he believed black people were time-wasters who could not afford the cars there.
The business had ceased trading by the time of the hearing and the owner did not attend.
A medical student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was awarded €1,000 against a third-level institution which, the authority found, failed to provide reasonable measures to accommodate his disability.
The student, who is not named, was entitled by reason of his disability to have certain supports when sitting written exams, such as a quiet room and extra time.
