The WRC found against seven members of a Traveller family who alleged that a government department withheld homelessness-payment assistance because of their race and membership of the Traveller community. The complainants did not attend the hearing, and no evidence was presented. The allegations were not decided on their merits.
The case concerned alleged discrimination and harassment over assistance with homelessness payments. The claims said the assistance was withheld between September and the first week of October 2016. The WRC had rescheduled the hearing after an issue arose over the names on the hearing notification.
The complainants’ representative attended the later hearing, repeated an objection to the adjudication officer and left. Adjudication Officer Orla Jones found against the complainants because no evidence was presented. The decision was dated 24 April 2023.