Pub Pays Out In Drink Smuggling Race Row
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A Nigerian man who was falsely accused of bringing his own beer into a pub and drinking it has won £4,000 compensation for racial discrimination. Skip related content
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Julius Anakaa, 38, ended up walking out of the beer garden at the Empire Bar in Belfast in disgust in May 2007 after complaining to a manager.
He said: "I was totally shocked and very embarrassed when I was accused of drinking a carryout on licensed premises. The beer I was drinking was purchased from the bar.
"I was so offended I offered to let the staff look in my rucksack to prove I was not concealing any alcohol.
"All I wanted was an apology, just someone to admit that I had been treated unfairly and to recognise that it was wrong.
"When I received the letter from the solicitors I decided to approach the Equality Commission for advice."
He wrote a letter of complaint to pub owner Wine Inns Ltd, alleging that his treatment was racially motivated.
But instead of a letter of apology, he received what a district judge described last month as "a stentorian tirade of bald denial and threats".
Mr Anakaa, who has lived in Belfast for 13 years, had been to the Empire before with friends and enjoyed it.
"I am very grateful for the help and support the Equality Commission gave me throughout this case," he added.
Anne McKernan, casework director at the Equality Commission, said it was unfortunate that incidents like this continued to happen.
"The treatment experienced by Julius highlights the need for everyone providing services to the public to make sure that they or their employees do not treat anyone less favourably on the basis of their race."
She added: "In addition to his treatment in the Empire Bar, Julius Anakaa was then sent a letter which made him feel even more humiliated and offended.
"The court has marked that as an act of victimisation, and has taken the welcome step in this case of issuing an injunction which will prevent the company from subjecting Julius Anakaa to any further unlawful discrimination if he decides to frequent the bar in the future.
"This sends a clear message that racism in all its forms is wrong and must be challenged."
Wine Inns Ltd said nobody was available to comment on the case.
At first i thought 4k was a little steep for simple false accusations, but then when i read about the letter i realised he had probably been treated un fairly. Just goes to show if you admit to your mistakes then things generally turn out better.
