The WRC rejected Alison Hudson’s disability discrimination complaint against Dunnes Stores ULC over being asked to leave a store during mask restrictions. The decision was dated 8 May 2023. Hudson said she had a medical exemption from wearing a mask and showed an exemption letter, but was asked to leave after an interaction with the store manager.
Dunnes said Hudson was barred because she had been abusive to staff after being asked to wear a mask. The adjudication officer accepted that the store could ask customers to follow mask rules or prove an exemption, and found relevant staff did not know Hudson had a disability or an exemption that day.
The officer accepted the manager’s evidence that Hudson became verbally abusive and was asked to leave because of that interaction, rather than because she failed to wear a mask. The WRC found Dunnes had not discriminated against her under the Equal Status Acts.