A man who claimed he was discriminated against by a North Clare Hotel has been awarded €2,000 in compensation by the equality tribunal.
Thomas Flanagan, from Lahinch, claimed he was discriminated against as a female member of staff entered the gents changing room at the Falls Hotel Leisure Centre on dates between October 2012 and January 2014 contrary to the Equal Status Act.
The Hotel says its currently considering its position with its legal advisors.
Thomas Flanagan was a member of the Leisure Centre at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, and claimed to the Equality Tribunal that a female employee entered the gents changing room on a number of occasions while it was occupied in order to clean it or use it as a thoroughfare between different parts of the building.
Mr Flanagan alleged that at times he was alone with the woman, and that this put him in a precarious situation as he was afraid he could have been accused of obscene acts.
In response, the Falls Hotel said the complaint was "made in bad faith" and described it as frivolous and vexatious.
They claim that on a date in November 2013, Mr. Flanagan approached the female employee and verbally attacked her to the point that spit was discharged into her face.
Afterwards, his membership of the leisure facility was terminated.
The adjudicator in the case found that the staff member was acting in the course of her employment in attending to the male changing rooms.
However, she said this amounted to discrimination against Mr. Flanagan, that it was 'offensive and humiliating' to him and she awarded him €2,000 in compensation.
