The WRC ordered a supermarket to pay a shopper €15,000 after finding it discriminated against her by refusing her entry because of mistaken identity. Adjudication Officer Shay Henry dated the decision 28 March 2023.
The shopper said she was wrongly accused of shoplifting and barred from the store. The supermarket denied discrimination and said its security manager had mistaken her for someone previously involved in shoplifting. The officer accepted that the refusal was based on mistaken identity. He found the security manager relied on the shopper’s appearance, knew the actual shoplifter’s name and did not ask the shopper to identify herself.
The officer found that, because of her disability, the shopper could not challenge the assumption at the time. He concluded that she was denied service on the grounds of disability and was discriminated against, and ordered the supermarket to pay €15,000 in compensation.