Courts / Tipperary / Report

Malawian woman refused housing assistance loses discrimination claim

Summary

In a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000, 64‑year‑old Elube Kapengule alleged that Tipperary County Council staff refused her emergency accommodation because of her race. She said she was laughed at, ridiculed and told to "go back to Malawi" when she sought housing on 9 December 2022. The council denied any racial discrimination, claiming she was ineligible for social housing due to less than five years of reckonable residency and that no staff laughed at her. Kapengule was directed to short‑term emergency accommodation under the Cold Weather Initiative and later to a Garda station where her immigration status was checked. She eventually left the council's office, slept outside, and sought help from the charity Doras Luimní. The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence that her race was a factor and rejected her complaint.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Malawian woman refused housing assistance loses discrimination claim. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• December 9, 2022 Other
• January 2023 Other
• Christmas Other
• 2023-12-05 Publication

Why: In a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 against Tipperary County Council, Ms Kapengule said council staff refused to provide her with emergency accommodation because of her race last winter – a complaint rejected by the WRC in a decision. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

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Read the original CNI report