WRC dismisses disability discrimination complaint over post office mask refusal

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) dismissed Catherine Dunne’s complaint against June Corcoran over an alleged refusal of service at a post office when Dunne attended without a face mask. The decision, dated 27 April 2023, said the claim was misconceived and dismissed it under section 42 of the Equal Status Acts as frivolous or vexatious. Dunne alleged disability discrimination, saying she was medically exempt from wearing a mask and wanted to register a letter. The WRC found she was seeking a service available to the public. Corcoran denied the claim and argued that related proceedings had already been brought. After the dismissal application was raised at the hearing, Dunne was given time to make a written response but did not submit one by 17 April 2023. The WRC dismissed the claim as misconceived without deciding the discrimination allegation on its merits.