A Protestant man has settled his case of religious discrimination against John Bittles trading as Bittles Bar in Belfast for £6,500.
It comes after the man went to Bittles Bar on a Friday afternoon to enjoy a drink and said he was “embarrassed and felt intimidated” by what happened next.
The man claimed that Mr Bittles said to him, “no seat, no drink, new rules in the bar. I look after my locals”. He said that Mr Bittles then pointed to a group of men on his left and continued, “you have not been in here for about three years and we don’t serve Protestants, only joking, no I’m not.”
The man said the comments were said very loudly and were greeted by cheering from other customers within the bar making him feel ‘very uncomfortable’.
He immediately left the bar and reported the incident to the PSNI, who recorded it as a hate crime.
“I just wanted to have a drink,” he said. “I’d been to Bittles Bar many times before over the years. The landlord knows me, and I was shocked by his comments and was really concerned by the reaction of the people in the bar.
“I honestly thought the days of this type of behaviour in Northern Ireland were behind us. I felt I had to challenge it, so I reported it to the police and contacted the Equality Commission.”
John Bittles has previously made waves when he booted a Coke drinker from his bar because he wasn’t drinking alcohol two years ago.
Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, who supported the case, said this is a reminder to all businesses that they have responsibilities under the anti-discrimination laws
“People are protected from religious belief and political opinion discrimination in the provision of a wide range of services,” she said.
“It is important that customers do not feel intimidated or degraded because of their religious beliefs. Everyone who walks through their doors should be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their religious background.
“This is also a reminder for each of us that what someone might see as banter or a harmless joke could have the effect of being offensive or intimidating to someone else.”
In settling the case, John Bittles apologised for any upset and distress caused to the man and affirmed commitment to the principles of equality in respect of the provision of services to the public.
He has also agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission.
