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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A WHEELCHAIR user had an egg thrown at him by disgruntled rail staff, angry that he had to use the dining car when travelling on the train.
William Hennessy, who is in his 40s and now living in Dublin, was awarded €3,000 by the Equality Tribunal after it was found he had been harassed by staff attached to Network Catering on Irish Rail.
Mr Hennessy told the tribunal that a change in the regulations in 1999 meant he could no longer park his wheelchair in the baggage area of the train.
He had to park his wheelchair in a designated spot in the dining car, but as he needed a motorised wheelchair, which is larger than a manual wheelchair, space was tight and his wheelchair often jutted out into the aisle.
In addition to being refused access to the train on a number of occasions, Mr Hennessy said in the dining car he came to feel maligned by staff members who believed he was taking up space that might have been used by customers.
He said the service trolley was rammed into his wheelchair as it moved past, and staff would ask him to move, even though they knew he needed assistance.
On April 27, 2000, he exited the train at Kent Station in Cork and an egg was thrown at him from the direction of the dining car.
The Equality Tribunal said it was "an undisputed fact" that an egg was thrown after Mr Hennessy left the train on April 27, 2000, and that he ultimately received a written apology.
Irish Rail was ordered to display a visible notice that "passengers with disabilities are welcome to travel and enjoy the amenity of the train without interference".
Mr Hennessy welcomed the tribunal’s decision but said "the award will not even pay for one" wheel- chair damaged on the train.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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