pubs and clubs /wheelchairs(not the usual bouncer thread!)

globalkb

hi lads,

just posting here for your learned opinion on this. I have a very close friend who is in a wheel chair.

At the weekend he was in a night club on Harcourt st and had paid in, had 2 drinks, the place is fully accessible etc, then the manager came up and asked him to leave as he was "as hazzard to other patrons". This is the third time this has happened to him this year,had never happened before this year (he's 25 and very social,his mind etc works fine).

It was very embarrasing etc,has anyone else heard of this happening in clubs/pubs? Has something changed that is making this type of thing happen to him?

I am not looking for your advice on what he should do as he is looking after that himself, I just wondered what you guys thought of this?

Thanks in advance!

Reloc8

No nothing has changed - he would have a valid claim for inequal treatment on grounds of disability, which can be made before a rights commissioner.

Its unusual for a place which is fully wheelchair accessible to behave like this. Taking what you have outlined as being the full story however, the conduct of the manager involved is in my opinion outrageous.

jhegarty

He should contact a solicitor.

I can't believe that would happen in 2009.

globalkb

It turns out the Equality Tribunal don't deal with places that serve alcohol. He was told to make an application to the District Court.

seems very odd to me that a tribunal set up to enforce the equal status acts can pick and choose who they enforce against?

Reloc8

Actually, sorry that's ringing a bell with me. - complaints re licensed premises can only go to Court, same legislation applies though. Sorry I said Rights Commissioner above.

Victor

globalkb wrote: »

seems very odd to me that a tribunal set up to enforce the equal status acts can pick and choose who they enforce against?

No, the Oireachtas changed the Equal Status Act to suit is public friends, who perceived things as against their interests.