Courts / Cork / Report

Hotel opposes Traveller discrimination case being heard at the High Court

Summary

The Court of Appeal will decide whether the High Court or the Circuit Court should re‑hear a Traveller family's discrimination case. The family, Bridget O'Reilly and Philip O'Neill, received €22,000 from the Workplace Relations Commission in 2022 after the Charleville Park Hotel, owned by Atlantic Troy Ltd, refused them accommodation in 2020 because they could not provide a credit card matching their ID. The WRC found the hotel's refusal discriminated against them as Travellers and as recipients of a Housing Assistance Payment. The Circuit Court overturned the award in July 2022, but the High Court quashed that ruling in September 2023, citing unfairness and inappropriate language used by the Circuit Court judge. The hotel now appeals the High Court's decision, arguing an adequate alternative remedy existed at the Circuit Court level. Ms O'Reilly's counsel seeks to keep the case in the High Court, while the hotel's counsel argues the Circuit Court route was available and was abandoned.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Hotel opposes Traveller discrimination case being heard at the High Court. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• September 28, 2020 Other
• July 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-04-03 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report