Man with autism wins country's first payout over not wearing a mask during pandemic

The patient submitted that he has autism and that he was discriminated against by the clinic in not reasonably accommodating him regarding the provision of medical services by insisting that he wear a mask. Picture Denis Minihane.

A State watchdog has ordered its first compensation payout concerning the non-wearing of a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Adjudicator Thomas O’Driscoll has ordered a clinic to pay out €3,000 compensation to a patient with autism concerning his discrimination claim relating to the non-wearing of a mask during Covid-19 brought under the Equal Status Act.