Courts / Dublin / Report
Lidl must pay Paralympian €2k for guidedog disability discrimination
Summary
In a decision issued on 20 September 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission tribunal ordered Lidl Ireland GmbH to pay former Paralympic athlete Nadine Lattimore €2,000 for disability discrimination. The complaint arose on 14 February when a Lidl employee told Lattimore to move her guide dog, Pilot, away from a bakery shelf, citing concerns that the dog might interfere with or lick food. Lattimore explained that she was blind and required the dog for assistance. She described the interaction as humiliating and hostile, and noted that a later employee apologized and clarified that she was not the owner of a dog that had previously eaten bakery stock. Lidl acknowledged the request to move the dog but denied that the conduct amounted to discrimination. The adjudicator found a failure by staff to ensure reasonable access, causing unnecessary upset, and awarded the compensation. The case follows a similar June ruling against Dealz Ltd for a separate breach of the Equal Status Act.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lidl must pay Paralympian €2k for guidedog disability discrimination. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 14 February Other
- 23 August 2023 Other
- 2024-09-20 Publication
Why: Ms Lattimore told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that when she explained that she was blind and needed her guide dog, the worker told her she was "concerned about the dog interfering with or licking the food". CNI source report
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request