Insurance company refused quote for 77-year-old

A motor insurance company has been found guilty of age discrimination.

Royal and Sun Alliance refused a motor insurance quote to a 77-year-old man who had a seven year no claims bonus.

The Equality Tribunal found them guilty, and ordered them to pay the man €2,000.

It said their across-the-board policy of refusing quotations to people over seventy could not be accepted.

Niall Crowley of the Equality Authority, who took the case on the man's behalf, says it is a landmark ruling.