WRC declines to hear Timi Olan’s race discrimination complaint against Tesco

The WRC declined to investigate Timi Olan’s complaint of race discrimination against Tesco Ireland Limited because it was submitted outside the six-month time limit. The decision was dated 12 June 2024, and the merits were not decided. Olan said a staff member at Tesco’s Wilton, Cork store directed him away from the customer-service desk while serving a white customer. Tesco said the desk was for lottery, tobacco and refund transactions, and that Olan was directed to self-service because he appeared to be buying drinks. The officer found that the explanation for the delay, including the wait for CCTV footage, did not establish reasonable cause to extend the deadline. The WRC therefore found it lacked jurisdiction to investigate the complaint.