From The Irish Independent…available here…a groom was barred from a bridal shop because he’s a man. So he sued. And won. GroomGroove.com’s take: What the hell was he doing there in the first place? Didn’t this groom have anything better to do? 
Bridegroom barred from ‘no men’ shop wins €1,500
By Patricia McDonagh
Friday March 21 2008
A MAN who was refused entry to a bridal shop which had a “no men policy” has been awarded €1,500 for discrimination.
Ciaran McMahon complained that he was discriminated against on the grounds of gender, contrary to the Equal Status Act 2000 to 2004 by Bridal Heaven Ltd.
Mr McMahon and his then fiancee were looking for a wedding dress for their forthcoming wedding when they identified a potential dress on the internet.
Bridal Heaven, which is based in Swords, north Dublin, was listed as the supplier of the dress and they decided to visit the premises to take a closer look. The couple went to the shop on February 18, 2005 but when they buzzed on the door on arrival, Mr McMahon was refused entry by the shop assistant.
She shouted “No men allowed here” and stopped him in his tracks.
Mr McMahon said he was highly surprised and embarrassed and stepped outside the store where he waited for his fiancee who had entered the shop.
While he waited no member of staff approached his fiancee to explain why her husband-to-be was not welcome in the store, he said. He pointed out he was a foot taller than his bride-to-be and would have been visible through the glass in the door to the person in the boutique as they rang the bell.
He therefore did not accept that the reason for the assistant’s yell was shock or surprise.
Bridal Heaven Ltd had argued that the wedding shop was exempted from complaint. They say the reason for their policy is that it may cause embarrassment to women customers trying on dresses if a man is also there.
They maintain the shop assistant only saw Mr McMahon when he was about to enter the premises and that the yell was more of a warning to customers present in the shop to take cover.
However, Equality Officer Tara Coogan said Mr McMahon had established a “prima facie” case of discrimination. She ordered the shop to pay €1,500 as redress for any embarrassment caused to him and ordered the shop to revisit its appointment-only policy.
“I can find no legitimate justification for this bridal store to maintain such a blanket ban on male customers,” she added.
The owners of Bridal Heaven LTD declined to comment on the case when contacted last night.
- Patricia McDonagh
