A Dublin taxi driver described as “abusive” has been ordered to pay €12,000 to a visually impaired couple after refusing them service and driving away with their guide dog during the Christmas period.
Anthony Clarke and his partner Lisa O’Donovan told an equality tribunal that the driver, Abiodun Dongo, behaved in an “abusive and aggressive” way, leaving them “hugely embarrassed and humiliated” during the incident on 27 December 2024 at Heuston Station in Dublin, reports RTE.
Mr Clarke, who is blind, and Ms O’Donovan, who is also visually impaired, have now succeeded in their case of disability discrimination under the Equal Status Act 1998 against Mr Dongo at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The couple explained they had travelled from Cork that morning with Mr Clarke’s guide dog and approached Mr Dongo while he was waiting at the taxi rank at the station, reports RTE.
According to their complaint, Mr Dongo “reacted abruptly” when asked for a taxi and refused to accept the guide dog.
They told the tribunal that the driver shouted at them in an “aggressive and abusive” manner before “winding up the car window and driving off abruptly”, reports RTE.
Mr Clarke and Ms O’Donovan said the incident left them both “hugely embarrassed and humiliated”.
The case was listed twice for hearings in Dublin, in January and again in April of this year, reports RTE.
Adjudication officer Valerie Murtagh noted in her published decision that Mr Dongo did not attend the proceedings.
She found both Mr Clarke and Ms O’Donovan to be “credible” witnesses and ruled in their favour based on the unchallenged evidence, reports RTE.
She determined that both individuals were discriminated against on the grounds of disability and were also denied reasonable accommodation.
“I find in favour of the complainant,” Ms Murtagh wrote in both rulings, reports RTE.
She ordered that €6,000 be paid to each of them in compensation for the impact of the discrimination.
“I further order the respondent to ensure, going forward, that he is in compliance with the relevant equality legislation,” Ms Murtagh concluded, reports RTE.
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