Father was not given children’s address

A separated father of two from India was awarded €6,348 — the maximum award under the Equal Status Act — after the Tribunal found a health service provider had failed to furnish him with information, including the address of his children, after he expressed concern that they had been moved to another part of the country by their mother.

The tribunal rejected claims by social workers that they did not know the man was a legal guardian of the children when they insisted he provide proof of his marriage.

It found the man was treated less favourably, on race grounds, than an Irish person would have been treated in similar circumstances.