Equality Officer Gerardine Coyle found that Patrick Fogarty was not entitled to a marriage gratuity from Bank of Ireland under the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974. Her recommendation was dated 10 August 1999.
Fogarty joined the bank in 1972, married while employed there and resigned in 1990. He argued that he should receive the gratuity available to qualifying women recruited before 1974. The bank disputed his entitlement and also argued that the claim was out of time.
Coyle followed a High Court ruling in a similar case, finding the difference in payment arose from conditions including recruitment before 1974, rather than sex. She found no discrimination under the 1974 Act. The separate claim under the Employment Equality Act, 1977 was excluded because it concerned remuneration; its merits were not decided.