Guidedog User Wins Equality Tribunal Case

Release Date: Dec 1st, 2008

Gabriel Moloney of NCBI has been awarded €3,500 under the Equal Status Act 2000 by the Equality Tribunal after the Park House Hotel, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, refused him permission to bring his guide dog for an overnight stay at the hotel. The hotel admitted the error and was ordered by the Equality Tribunal to provide disability training for its staff. At the hearing, the hotel's representative acknowledged that the treatment "was wrong and is regrettable". The manager on duty on the night made an error of judgment and was unaware that guide dogs were an exception to the hotel's 'no dogs allowed' policy. The hotel apologised for the upset and inconvenience caused and offered Gabriel the opportunity to come and stay in the hotel with a guest free of charge whenever he was passing that way again.