British holiday park operator Pontins has been forced to apologize after it was issued with a legal notice for "shocking" discrimination against Irish Travellers.
The British Government's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that Pontins had created a list of "undesirable guests" using common Irish surnames, informing its staff to cancel or decline bookings made by guests with those surnames.
The list of surnames included Irish names such as Boyle, Keefe, Gallagher, McGuinness, O'Donnell, Murphy, and O'Reilly, the EHRC stated.
The Commission additionally found that staff working in a Pontins call center were instructed to listen for Irish accents to identify Travellers and subsequently decline or cancel their bookings.
Furthermore, the EHRC found evidence of a "banned guest" list, featuring the names of people thought to be Irish Travellers and their associates.
Pontins additionally brought in rules requiring guests to appear on the electoral register, which the EHRC found to be discriminatory against Travellers and gypsies as they were less likely to be registered to vote.
The Commission said it was "deeply concerned" by the practices it had uncovered at Pontins and issued the park operator with an "unlawful act notice", meaning Pontins has until April 9 to produce an action plan detailing how it will address the concerns.
The company could face penalties if it fails to comply with the notice before the deadline.
In a statement, Pontins, which is owned by Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited - said it is reviewing the Commission's finding and added that all of the issues pre-date 2018.
"The specific incidents reported by the EHRC are historic issues, pre-dating 2018," the company said in a statement.
"The call center where the incidents took place has now closed and the majority of the staff involved have now left Pontins.
"We apologize to all who may have been affected. Pontins is committed to ensuring ongoing compliance with the Equality Act 2010."
British holiday company Pontins created a list that instructed staff to refuse bookings from Irish people with specific surnames. The company have since issues an apology over the discriminatory practices which ceased in 2018😳
Know someone with a surname on the list? pic.twitter.com/OfABqMzwMX
— Lovin Dublin (@LovinDublin) February 15, 2024
The EHRC said Pontins must take steps to avoid future discrimination, including engaging with the Traveller community, monitoring booking cancelations, and reviewing its policies and procedures.
The Commission said Pontins must also remove terms that stipulate the guests must be on the electoral register and implement equality training around the legal duty not to discriminate.
The EHRC entered into a legally binding agreement with Pontins in 2021 to end discrimination and prevent further discrimination after a whistleblower unveiled the discriminatory practices at the company in 2020.
EHRC Chair Kishwer Falkner said the investigation uncovered "flagrant breaches" of the Equality Act 2010.
"Their business practices demonstrated shocking overt race discrimination towards Irish Travellers and there was a culture of denial," Falkner said in a statement.
"We remain deeply concerned about these discriminatory practices. They were instigated and supported by senior managers and their leadership failed to take any action or accept corporate responsibility.
"Such unlawful and discriminatory behavior is completely unacceptable, and it must never be tolerated."
Traveller charity group Friends, Families, and Travellers said the EHRC's report was "deeply saddening" but unsurprising.
"It is deeply saddening that Irish Traveller people have become so used to hate and prejudice that the Pontin's 'blacklist' did not come as a surprise," said Chris McDonagh, Campaigns Officer for the group.
"Whilst we are certain that Pontin's are not the only ones operating such discriminatory policies, we welcome the EHRC's investigation and commend the whistleblower's principled stance."
Speaking after the launch of the EHRC investigation in 2021, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the Pontins incident was the latest example of a "deeply worrying" rise in anti-Irish sentiment in Britain.
"The Equality and Human Rights Commission Investigation into the operation of a blacklist of common Irish names and accents at holiday firm Pontins is just one example of the blatant discrimination that people face," Eastwood said in the House of Commons in 2021.
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