The Equality Tribunal ordered a supermarket to pay €1,500 after finding it discriminated against a child by refusing to let him shop with his guide dog and that he was harassed during the incident. The decision was dated 29 March 2011.
A parent brought the complaint on her son’s behalf after the incident in the shop on 28 January 2009. She said staff rejected the dog’s identification and shouted at them. A supermarket accepted that they were asked to take the dog outside because security did not recognise it as a guide dog.
The Equality Officer found that it would have been unduly difficult for the child to shop without the dog, and that asking for it to be removed failed to provide reasonable accommodation. She also found that a security guard shouted abuse and called names, creating an intimidating and hostile environment. The manager did not intervene to stop the behaviour, so the company could not rely on the statutory defence to the harassment complaint.
The company said the guard was disciplined, staff training was reviewed and an apology was sent. It also provided two €300 vouchers. The €1,500 compensation was for the discriminatory treatment and the distress and upset caused by the harassment.