FORMER equality minister John Moloney faced a civil charge of discrimination brought against him by a Mountmellick traveller last week.

The charge against the 60-year-old former Fianna Fáil TD was dismissed by Judge Catherine Staines at a sitting of Portlaoise Civil Court.

Derrycloney floor fitter James Cawley (34) claimed that he was discriminated against because he was a traveller when he was refused service at Moloney’s Gaelic Bar, Mountmellick last year and took action against the registered owners J&P Moloney Ltd.

Mr Cawley said that what happened to him would not have happened to a settled person.

Mr Moloney denied discrimination and added that, as a politician, he had always promoted traveller issues.

The court heard that the pair had known each other for some years, with Mr Moloney getting the Cawley vote. In 2012, Mr Moloney had asked Mr Cawley to suggest to his brothers to drink elsewhere, following two incidents at the bar allegedly involving some of Mr Cawley’s brothers. Mr Cawley was still welcome at the bar, however. Mr Cawley was mistakenly refused service in the bar in January 2013, but the issue was resolved. A month later, Mr Moloney told Mr Cawley that he was no longer welcome in the premises when he, allegedly, brought his older brother Bernard into the pub and also challenged the publican in the manner he ran the pub.

Mr Cawley denied bringing in his brother and believed that only his younger brothers were barred. He also denied challenging Mr Moloney.

Dismissing the charge, Judge Staines said that what had occurred was a “communication breakdown” between the pair over which of the brothers had been barred.