Jim, UK race hatred laws do apply to Irish Travellers
Independent 30th July 2000.
Irish travellers were granted legal protection under the Race Relations Act in a landmark court judgment yesterday.

The Commission for Racial Equality said the judgment on the travellers, who had been denied the protection given to other ethnic minorities, was a victory for a group that routinely suffered discrimination.

Eight travellers, originally from Ireland, are claiming discrimination against five pubs in the Harrow and Enfield areas of London, which they say refused to serve them. They brought the case after secretly recording what happened when they asked to be served in the pubs in April 1998.

Lawyers for Punch Retail, the owner of three of the pubs, argued that they were not covered by the Race Relations Act, at a preliminary hearing at Central London County Court last month.

But Judge Goldstein rejected their argument yesterday, saying Irish travellers should be covered by the Act in the same way as other ethnic groups. The judge said Irish travellers had a shared history going back to at least the mid-19th century.

"Modern Irish travellers are guided by the culture and traditions which have been handed down by generations. They do not go around reading history, they practise it," he said. His judgment means that the travellers, who are all in their 40s, can carry on with their claim of discrimination against Punch Retail. The company has the option of appealing within 42 days.


Jim, would you say they are treated with more respect in your chosen country of residence?