Courts / Dublin / Report
Artist with Down Syndrome loses equality claim against NCAD
Summary
The Workplace Relations Commission has dismissed Ellie Dunne's disability discrimination complaint against the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). Dunne, the first student with Down Syndrome to enrol in NCAD's fine art degree, alleged the college failed to provide necessary supports during her 2023 first semester, leading to her failure in a crucial module. The adjudicator rejected the claim primarily because formal notice was not served until April 2024, exceeding the statutory two-month limit. Additionally, the adjudicator found that requiring Dunne to re-sit the module was an inherent element of academic standards, not discrimination. Evidence included testimony from Dunne, her mother Katy McGuinness, and NCAD director Professor Sarah Glennie. McGuinness claimed NCAD was "ableist" and that her daughter's support worker, Nathalie Scharwatt, was excluded from educational support. NCAD denied discrimination "in the strongest possible terms" and cited a breach of protocol regarding a disability assessment document. The matter was concluded with the claim dismissed on both procedural and substantive grounds.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Artist with Down Syndrome loses equality claim against NCAD. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- September 2024 Other
- June 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2024 Other
- April 2024 Other
- 2026-02-08 Publication
Case subjects
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