Two blind men who were refused service in two bars in Bangor, Co Down, have received compensation totalling £7,000. The case was taken through the North's Equality Commission against the bars, Jenny Watts and Fealty's.
The men, who have not been named, were accompanied by a guide dog when they were refused service in the bars over two years ago. The case is similar to that of Mr John Roche, a visually-impaired man, who was awarded €3,000 by the Republic's Equality Authority after he was refused service in Madigans pub on O'Connell Street, Dublin.
In March 2000, the two men were first refused service in Fealty's and asked to leave the bar. They were told it was because of the guide dog. They refused to leave. The police were called and escorted them off the premises. One of the blind men was placed in a police car for a time but was not arrested.
They went to nearby Jenny Watts, where they said they were refused entry because they might spill their drinks.
The case was taken under the Disability Discrimination Act. One man received £3,000 while the other received £4,000 because he spent time in the police car. The cases were settled out of court.
The Equality Commission said that £72,000 had been paid in compensation to people with disabilities in the North since the introduction of the disability discrimination legislation.