Courts / Dublin / Report

Equality claims against Brazilian jiu-jitsu promoter thrown out by WRC

Date
2026-05-29

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Discrimination complaints against the organiser of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament have been dismissed by a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudicator. The claims, brought under the Equal Status Act 2000 by Michail Michailidis, Makarios Michailidis, and Elena Arabova-Michailidis against Grappling Industries Corp, were thrown out after the hearing was disrupted by the claimant. The adjudicator, Michael McEntee, had to leave the room due to the disruptive and loud behaviour of Michail Michailidis, who was representing himself and the other complainants. Despite attempts by the adjudication officer and a representative from the Citizens' Advice Service to proceed, the hearing could not continue. A porter also intervened, asking Michail Michailidis to stop shouting as it was causing disturbance. The adjudicator had previously warned the claimants of potential termination of the case due to the disruptive conduct, but received no response. As a result, the adjudicator concluded that the case was not properly founded and therefore unsuccessful, citing a High Court ruling on the termination of similar cases for disruptive behaviour at hearings.