Two County Down pubs have paid out a total of �7,000 in compensation to two blind men who were refused service because of their disability.

The incidents happened in March 2000, but the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has just released details of the case.

They involved Fealty's bar and Jenny Watts, both in Bangor.

It was said the two men, accompanied by a guide dog, went into the first bar in the town's High Street.

They claim they were refused a drink because of their dog, but this is denied by the pub.

Discriminate

When the men refused to leave, the police were called and escorted them out. One of the men was put into a police vehicle, but not arrested.

The men then went to Jenny Watts pub where the doorman refused them entry.

The men claim they were told it was because they might spill their drinks.

The men took a case against the pubs under the Disability Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people on grounds of their disability by denying them access to goods, facilities or services.

It was finally settled out of court last October. One man received �3,000 and the other �4,000 because of the time he had spent in the police vehicle.

The bars also agreed to make their policies and premises conform to the Disability Code of Practice.

The Equality Commission said Northern Ireland businesses had paid out a total of �72,000 in compensation to people with disabilities since the introduction of the legislation.