The Workplace Relations Commission found Zeljko Pranjic’s disability discrimination complaint against Mercury Food Distributors Limited not well founded. The decision, dated 4 November 2022, concerned his claim that he was refused service at the company’s shop in Midleton after being asked about wearing a face covering.
Pranjic said a skin condition made wearing a mask uncomfortable and that a staff member asked him for proof of his exemption before asking him to leave. The company denied discrimination and said it had acted on guidance about face coverings during the pandemic.
The adjudication officer found the evidence insufficient to establish that Pranjic had a disability for the purposes of the claim. The officer also found that he had not told the shop the nature of his disability during the visit, which the decision said was necessary for a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to arise. The officer concluded that no prima facie case of disability discrimination had been established.