Irish fire worker wins race claim

BBC News:

An Irish woman who was told her race was "a sin" by a fire service colleague has won £3,000 in compensation.

The Royal Berkshire Fire Authority was ordered to pay the sum to Ann Neylan, 39, after it was found she had been a victim of racial discrimination.

An employment tribunal in Reading heard in March how on Comic Relief day in 2003 a worker wrote a list of fineable sins on a board in the control room.

Among the transgressions was "being Irish", punishable with a £1 fine.

Paul Bishop, a fellow fire control operator, wrote the list, leaving a donation box marked "all proceeds to Comic Relief", the tribunal heard.

The tribunal panel awarded £3,000 to Ms Neylan for "injury to feelings", to which £501 of interest will be added.

Richard Byrne, the tribunal chairman, said in a written judgment that he was "satisfied this did amount to direct discrimination".

He said: "Whilst some may take the view that the claimant was over sensitive within the context of the day and the spirit of charitable fundraising, she was the only Irish person working in the control room and the comment can only have applied to her and directly arose from her race."

Ms Neylan said she was "very pleased" with the judgment.

It is sad to see that even in the 21st century some British people still see being Irish as something to make jokes about.