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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Catholic men win hotel bias case | Catholic men win hotel bias case |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two Catholic employees sacked from a Belfast hotel have been awarded £27,000 damages for religious discrimination. | Two Catholic employees sacked from a Belfast hotel have been awarded £27,000 damages for religious discrimination. |
| Riccardo Cafolla and Stephen Mooney were managers at Days Hotel until they were dismissed in June 2005. | Riccardo Cafolla and Stephen Mooney were managers at Days Hotel until they were dismissed in June 2005. |
| The two men took their case to the Fair Employment Tribunal which found they had been discriminated against. | The two men took their case to the Fair Employment Tribunal which found they had been discriminated against. |
| It followed loyalist attacks on the hotel after managers had disciplined staff. The attacks stopped after a meeting with the UDA. | It followed loyalist attacks on the hotel after managers had disciplined staff. The attacks stopped after a meeting with the UDA. |
| Mr Cafolla was awarded £16,110 and Mr Mooney received £11,600. | Mr Cafolla was awarded £16,110 and Mr Mooney received £11,600. |
| The tribunal said that senior management in the hotel at the time did not wish to instigate disciplinary action against a particular employee as they feared this would lead to more attacks on the hotel. | The tribunal said that senior management in the hotel at the time did not wish to instigate disciplinary action against a particular employee as they feared this would lead to more attacks on the hotel. |
| It stated that the attacks "were sectarian and directed particularly to Catholic employees of the hotel". | It stated that the attacks "were sectarian and directed particularly to Catholic employees of the hotel". |
| I was very upset to be dismissed when I knew we had done nothing to deserve it Stephen Mooney | I was very upset to be dismissed when I knew we had done nothing to deserve it Stephen Mooney |
| It was satisfied that after the UDA meeting, serious attacks stopped but one of those employees disciplined continued to make comments to Mr Mooney. | It was satisfied that after the UDA meeting, serious attacks stopped but one of those employees disciplined continued to make comments to Mr Mooney. |
| The tribunal decided that the two men had been disciplined after they told the company, Andras House, that they wished to begin a grievance procedure. | The tribunal decided that the two men had been disciplined after they told the company, Andras House, that they wished to begin a grievance procedure. |
| Eileen Lavery of the Equality Commission | |
| Speaking after the FET decision was made public, Mr Cafolla said he felt "vindicated". | Speaking after the FET decision was made public, Mr Cafolla said he felt "vindicated". |
| "My chief concern in all this was to try to ensure the safety of the staff in the hotel. I am pleased that the tribunal has vindicated what I did," he said. | "My chief concern in all this was to try to ensure the safety of the staff in the hotel. I am pleased that the tribunal has vindicated what I did," he said. |
| Mr Mooney said the attacks and threats were frightening. | Mr Mooney said the attacks and threats were frightening. |
| "I was very upset to be dismissed when I knew we had done nothing to deserve it," he said. | "I was very upset to be dismissed when I knew we had done nothing to deserve it," he said. |
| Eileen Lavery of the Equality Commission, which supported the case, said the FET found the hotel management had treated some staff more leniently than others. | Eileen Lavery of the Equality Commission, which supported the case, said the FET found the hotel management had treated some staff more leniently than others. |
| "To be dismissed following this dispute was unjustified and obviously distressing to the two men concerned. The tribunal has reflected that in their decision," she said. | "To be dismissed following this dispute was unjustified and obviously distressing to the two men concerned. The tribunal has reflected that in their decision," she said. |
| The hotel has refused to comment on the ruling. | The hotel has refused to comment on the ruling. |