A primary school has won a case [1] in which it was alleged to have discriminated against non-Catholic pupils by giving ice-creams as a treat to those who took part in a Communion choir.
A mother of a pupil complained to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that children who took part in a Communion choir in May 2022 were called from their classrooms and given the treats for taking part in the ceremony.
The mother said these children then returned to class eating their ice-creams and that her child, who was in second class and not of the Catholic faith, felt unfairly excluded.
In its finding, the commission concluded that the ice-creams given to children who took part in the choir’s activities amounted to “more favourable” treatment rather than “less favourable” treatment.
It agreed that the choir was not restricted on the basis of religion that “no religious ground has been established for the treatment which was given to those children who opted to take part in the choir’s activities”. As a result, it said the mother had not established religious discrimination.