A DIABETIC student has been awarded £2,000 in compensation by a Belfast court after security staff at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert confiscated her bottle of Lucozade.
Kayla Hanna (20) was attending Tennent's Vital off Boucher Road in August 2016 when Eventsec staff told her she would not be allowed to bring the drink inside.
She later contacted the Equality Commission which supported her to bring a case to court alleging a breach of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Belfast County Court made a finding of discrimination and she was awarded £2,000.
Judge Gilpin said Eventsec had failed to provide a reasonable adjustment to its policy of not allowing liquids to be brought into the concert.
Ms Hanna, who has type 1 diabetes, said she carries Lucozade with her at all times as it gives her a glucose boost if her blood sugar levels drop.
The Belfast student said she was "very anxious and upset" throughout the concert and was "afraid something would happen" after not being allowed the drink.
She said she had shown the security guard her insulin pack and a wrist tattoo which indicates her diabetes.
"This had never happened me at other concerts I went to. I really hope that, now this issue has been brought to light, it won't happen again to me or other people who live with diabetes," she said.
Mary Kitson, senior legal officer at the Equality Commission, said: "In this case, the company should have made arrangements to ensure that Kayla could have accessed Lucozade during the concert if needed, for example by directing her to its own medical centre at the venue and providing her with a bottle of Lucozade.
"That would have been a simple adjustment and would have met her medical needs. The court has ruled that this was a breach of the law and awarded Kayla £2,000."
