Thomas and Mary Mahon win hotel discrimination case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Thomas and Mary Mahon won their discrimination case against The White House Hotel at Swords District Court. The proceedings were reported on 10 December 2013.

The couple were each awarded €1,500 compensation, along with legal costs and the return of their €190 deposit. Judge Dermot Dempsey said they had proved a prima facie case of discrimination after the hotel refused to serve their group on 15 February.

Mrs Mahon accepted that one group member had previously been barred. The defence said the group could have been served food without alcohol if he left, while bar manager Eddie Kinsella said the refusal resulted from the hotel’s policy concerning barred customers.