Shop ordered to pay €15,000 to intellectually disabled woman wrongly accused of shoplifting

The complainant was awarded €15,000 after being discriminated against following a case of mistaken identity

Represented by her sister, the complainant claimed that the security guard blocked her entry, telling her, "you are not allowed in here". File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered a store to pay €15,000 to an intellectually disabled woman who they accused of shoplifting after mistaking her identity.

Heard by WRC adjudication officer, Shay Henry, the commission was told that the woman was refused entry to the store by a security guard in February 2021. Represented by her sister, the complainant claimed that the security guard blocked her entry, telling her, "you are not allowed in here".