£3,000 pub compensation for disabled woman

Pub bosses have paid £3,000 compensation to a wheelchair-bound woman who was refused entry to a Northern Ireland bar.

The case is a warning to licensees not to bar entry on the grounds of disability.

Catherine Harvey was turned away from the Cellar Bar in Lurgan - which holds weekly meetings for disability support group Praxis.

The Equality Commission took action under the Disability Discrimination Act, which makes it illegal to give less favourable treatment to disabled customers.

Owners of the Cellar Bar admitted liability and made an out-of-court settlement. They agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission and arrange staff training on disability matters.

A spokeswoman for the venue said they had provided services to the disabled community for many years and apologised to Harvey.

Eileen Lavery, head of strategic enforcement in the Equality Commission, said: "People with mobility difficulties face many physical barriers and should not have to confront additional barriers caused by discriminatory attitudes."​