Barred Travellers bag golf course compo

FIVE Travellers are each to get €1,400 in compensation after being barred from a golf course in the North.

Dungannon Golf Club in Co Tyrone, once the home club of Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke, has also agreed to consider all future applications for membership without discrimination on the grounds of race.

The out-of-court settlement was announced yesterday following a decision to refuse the men permission to play the parkland course in June 2000.

The decision is bound to have a major impact at some clubs on both sides of the Border, which have been forced to introduce security measures to prevent Traveller settlements being located on their property. It is understood the men had played the course along with non-Travellers. But when they later returned, this time unaccompanied, they were refused permission and asked to leave.

Equality Commission chief Joan Harbison, who backed the legal action, insisted no sections of the community should have to endure racism.

She said: “No one should be excluded from playing sports, shopping or from a social life just because they belong to a particular group or community.

“Members of the Traveller community are entitled to receive the same treatment as members of the settled community.” The Ulster branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland was unavailable for comment.

The case was taken to a county court under the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order before the club issued an apology and admitted its guilt.

It also accepted that its practices and procedures were unlawful and contrary to the order.

The Equality Commission said the men were delighted with the outcome. The apology and assurances they will be allowed to play the course in future had been particularly satisfying for them. “We welcomed the opportunity to work with Dungannon Golf Club in reviewing its policies and training its staff,” said Ms Harbison.