THIS traveller couple were refused service for a meal for themselves and their guests on their daughter's wedding day at a Dublin hotel.

Thomas and Mary Mahon were awarded €3,000 compensation when they claimed they were embarrassed and ashamed in front of their family after the incident at the White House Hotel outside Swords.

The couple, of Rivervalley Grove in Swords, alleged they were discriminated against because there had been a row at a traveller wedding in the pub the previous day – which had nothing to do with them or their guests.

INCIDENT

Defending the discrimination claim, the White Hotel said one of the couple's guests was barred from the pub and it was policy that customers who arrived in the pub with a barred individual were not served until that person left.

Bar manager Eddie Kinsella said he subsequently offered to serve the group food, but not alcohol, but Mr Mahon did not appear happy about this and never asked his barred guest to leave.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said the couple had suffered severe embarrassment and it appeared the discrimination was a reaction to an unrelated incident the previous day.

The judge ordered €3,000 compensation be paid to Mr and Mrs Mahon. He also ordered costs against the White House Hotel and its owner Simon Rutledge.

Mary Mahon told Swords District Court her daughter Fiona got married on February 13 last. She and her husband Thomas booked a celebratory meal for about 25 family members at the White House Hotel, at The Ward, Co Dublin.

Mrs Mahon said her family were regulars in the White House. She said the staff were lovely and knew them from their visits to the hotel.

She said the family was heading to a reception in Clonee that night and the meal in the White House was a small family celebration.

Mrs Mahon said she went into the pub and staff told her they couldn't serve her. She was told there had been a traveller wedding in the pub the day before, there had been a row and a car was burnt out in the car park.

She said she told the staff this had nothing to do with her or her guests. Mrs Mahon said she was upset but didn't want to make a scene so she walked out.

In his evidence, Mr Mahon said he was told that his group would not be served as there had been an argument the day before and the venue would not be taking any more bookings from travellers.

Mr Mahon claimed he offered to just serve the meal and soft drinks, but this was unacceptable.

Mr Kinsella said one of Mr and Mrs Mahon's guests was barred from the pub and he explained to them their party would not be served until he left.

Both he and waitress Corina Greer said that was bar policy and applied to everyone.

Mr Kinsella said Mr Mahon never asked this man to leave.

He claimed he later offered to serve food, but not alcohol, as he didn't want to ruin their day but Mr Mahon was not happy with this.

EVIDENCE

He also said the White House did not discriminate against travellers and had since held four traveller weddings.

Finding in favour of Mr and Mrs Mahon, Judge Dempsey said Mr Kinsella had given contradictory evidence of the policy of the White House.

Speaking outside Swords courthouse, Mrs Mahon said she was delighted with the verdict, saying she and her husband had been embarrassed in front of their guests.

She also said they were upset about the discrimination but had not let it ruin their daughter's wedding day, and the family had enjoyed a reception in Clonee later that night.

hnews@herald.ie