Eatery to pay €15k to harassed gay women

A Cork outlet of fast-food chain Eddie Rocket’s has been ordered to pay €15,000 compensation to two lesbian members of staff who quit work after just two weeks in the job.

The Equality Tribunal ruled that the two women, waitress Laura Mezei from Hungary and kitchen porter Melanda Magyar from Slovakia, were subjected to harassment and sexual harassment by the restaurant on grounds of gender and sexual orientation.

The couple had begun work at Eddie Rocket’s in Blackpool in late May 2008 but both left in the first week of June after experiencing obscene comments by other work colleagues.