29/08/2008

Pensioner Gets €2,000 Award For Discrimination By Bank

The Equality Tribunal has awarded an elderly woman €2,000 as compensation for age discrimination.

The tribunal found Ulster bank had discriminated against the 70 year-old when it refused her application for a car loan because she was over the age of 65.

Phyllis Fahey from Rathfarnham, Dublin was refused a car loan from Ulster Bank's Maynooth branch in 2005, when she was 70 years of age.

The Equality Authority, which backed her action, described Ms Fahey’s victory as "hugely significant" and now the pensioner has encouraged her peers to take similar action if faced with discrimination.

An Ulster Bank spokesman said: "Ulster Bank would like to confirm that there was no upper age limit in 2005 in relation to applications for a personal loan. This remains the case."

Niall Crowley, the chief executive of the Equality Authority, says the case highlights the manner in which age limits are often used to exclude older people from society.

(DW)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 July 2012
Ulster Bank Employee Jailed For Stealing From Accounts
A bank employee has been jailed for two years after stealing a six figure sum from her employer. Sorcha Halpin (27) formerly of Beverton Gardens, Donabate, stole almost €330,000 from Ulster Bank accounts while she was working there.
29 June 2012
Central Bank Concerned By Ulster Bank Delays
The Central Bank of Ireland has said it is concerned by the "unacceptable continuing delays by Ulster Bank in fully resolving its systems issues and the consequent impact on its customers".
27 February 2013
Ulster Bank Admit Mortgage Error
Ulster Bank has issued an apology after 1,000 customers were put on the incorrect mortgage. Mortgage customers had been given the option to pay only the interest and not the capitol on their loans for between two and five years.
13 October 2015
Budget 2016 Being Presented To The Dáil
The Budget 2016 will be presented to the Dáil by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan today (Tuesday), starting at 2:15pm. It is understood that the Budget will be aimed as "growing the economy and creating jobs".
18 October 2007
Woman Freed In Slurry Tank Killing Probe
A 44-year-old woman being held in connection with the murder of New Age traveller Gary Bull in Cork has been released without charge. The woman, who was arrested on the outskirts of Cork city on Tuesday afternoon, was released last night. A file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.