Dublin pub found guilty of racial discrimination

A WELL-KNOWN Dublin pub has become the first licensed premises to be found guilty of discriminating against a customer on race grounds.

The Turk’s Head in Parliament Street has been ordered to pay 1,500 to a student from Azerbaijan as a result of a recent ruling by the Equality Tribunal.

Sajjad Sajjadi, 33, who holds Irish citizenship, complained that he was refused entry to the Turk’s Head on September 25, 2001.

The pub’s general manager Rita Barcoe confirmed last evening the Turk’s Head was appealing the fine.

Mr Sajjadi, who has lived in Ireland for over eight years, said he was denied admission despite producing a valid student card with photo ID. He had previously been in the Turk’s Head and never had difficulty with being allowed on the premises.

The DIT Bolton Street student said he was denied entry to the pub last September 25 by a doorman who insisted he could only gain entry by showing his passport.

However, the Equality Tribunal ruled Mr Sajjadi had suffered racial discrimination as there was no allegation by the pub he had drink taken or had previously caused trouble.

It found Mr Sajjadi was subjected to a tougher screening process than normal at the pub because he was of “non-Irish extraction”.