Wheelchair user refused entry to Dublin Nightclub.

scudzilla · 10-03-2013 10:39PM

When i was Head Doorman of a large club back in Wales we used to have a few people coming in wheelchairs, we never refused anyone but did point out a few things.

Ya walked into reception then into the main club, there was a big flat area with a bar/toilets, then 6 steps down to dancefloor. Other side of dancefloor was 6 steps up to far side area, then in that area 2 sets of steps (about 30) to upstairs area.

All people in wheelchairs were told they were more than welcome, and we didn't even charge, so long as they stayed in the first area, as if there was a fire and they had managed to be lifted/carried to other area's they would be a hazard to themselves and others (imagine trying to carry a chair down stairs in a smoky building)

This went fine for a few years, then 1 guy started taking the piss, his friends continually carried him up to the top floor, (was just a balcony and bar), he was warned 3 times, then barred for 6 months

jd007 · 10-03-2013 10:39PM

Your bouncers are still ***** though. Give yourselves an extra pat on yhe back for hiring them. Top notch employment.

****ing disgusting, vile people, i hope the guy in the wheelchair takes u to the cleaners, RATS

Pack of ****in rats. Shameful your treatment of a disabled individual simply wanting a night out.....Pricks

Well done being ****ing the worst *****... explain yourselves!!!.....

yous couldnt run a piss up in a brewery, yous knackers

Madison Nightclub=****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few of the comments on their FB page. The utter vitriol people come out with after only hearing one side of the story with absolutely no proof is amazing.

Czarcasm · 10-03-2013 10:41PM

Andy-Pandy wrote: »

If on the off chance we ever did slip while carrying him it would be are fault. We are not c1nts and will take responsibility for are actions. Some of the attitudes on this thread are shocking.

Saying that now tbh might be all well and good, but the club has no way of knowing you won't sue, and if an accident were to happen where one of you slipped, tripped and ended up in a wheelchair yourselves, would you still think "nah, I won't look for compensation, t'was me own fault sure".

I respectfully suggest you think twice before you put door staff in that position again. They're not just there to say "not tonight mate", they're there to look out for the security and safety of the public, including your inspirational friend.

Grayson · 10-03-2013 10:42PM

builditwell wrote: »

As soon as youre admitted into a place ,the liability begins at the front door.

So the bouncer was probably in the right. And he got fired. That sucks. I haven't seen anyone involved say they're sorry he lost his livelihood.

My favourite quote from the Facebook crowd.

Find that ****ing **** of a bouncers house and blow his legs off, un-educated biggoted discriminatory bastards like him deserve nothing more than to face the inconvenience, harassment, and pain that the disabled community go through every day and if I seen something like that happen, I would personally make sure the perpetrators don't do it again, whether it means hurting them or suing the ass of them and donating all money to care, I can't stand people like that and I have my reasons for it....

liquoriceall · 10-03-2013 10:44PM

How was he going to get out at the end of the night? Would people expect the bouncers to carry him? I love how its all about his rights what about other peoples rights not to have a back injury lifting him

Alactric · 10-03-2013 10:45PM

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

T

Also, Of all the clubs in the City, did he choose to goto one in a basement and no wheelchair access, I mean its not like he couldn't have spent a half second on the interwebs and figured this wasn't the best choice for a night out.

I'm finding this very confusing as well. He's clearly gone on nights out plenty of times before, it's not unreasonable to expect some clubs just aren't equipped, which is no excuse and still crap but the practicality of the situation has to hit home at some point. We still don't know what bouncer said directly though, which could be the real deal breaker. The bouncer's comments could elevated the incident from an annoying inconvenience to outright discrimination

Scruffles · 10-03-2013 10:45PM

seanmacc wrote: »

If they carried him down the stairs there would be no problem if they invested in an evacuation chair. All wheelchair accessible buildings have to have them due to lifts not working in the case of fire. They are not expensive and require little training for staff to operate.

the evacmat is even easier to carry a person;a lot more stable, and less dangerous for them to use; this one is mine,well half of it,its to big to get a full shot of-
http://sadpanda.us/images/1460034-TL7JO9J.jpg
takes two people [one at each end] to use and woud suit a lot more disabilities unlike the chairs,evac chairs can be more dangerous for some people,especialy if they are very overweight,or have difficulty holding their upper body up,or have spastic muscles and may make sudden jerks [eg, CP] , or use a H/T/crelling harness.

Slunk · 10-03-2013 10:51PM

I wonder would the bouncer have a case for unfair dismissal. He was only doing his job. I certainly wouldn't be lifting anyone up and down stairs. Health and safety would be all over that.

rannerap · 10-03-2013 10:52PM

I've been to this place, the entrance in is a set of very steep stairs. Its in the basement, and its tiny! As people have said what was the bouncer meant to do carry him in and out? what if they fell? they are not covered to do such things. Really I would think he was refused in health and safety grounds, its all turned into a big witch hunt as these things normally do.

sfwcork · 10-03-2013 10:53PM

Its quite funny how this escalated so quickly

joetoad · 10-03-2013 10:54PM

The bouncer was probably new and didn't realize they could have letting someone in on a wheelchair even though there was stairs there. he probably wasn't even discriminating just thought it was a risk if he fell down the stairs been carried by drunk people. Or the guy in the wheelchair could have been scuttered. Who knows

marcsignal · 10-03-2013 10:55PM

McBauer wrote: »

If it was such an embarrassing incident then why did he go plastering it all over the internet? Why not deal with the situation privately with the company and/or a lawyer?

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I dont know him, I'm just going by how he dealt with this situation. And he didnt deal with it in an all too inspirational manner.

You can put yourself inside the mind of a wheelchair user, who has just been publicly humiliated ? I'm impressed, because I must say, I can't.

I can understand him being pissed off, but I couldn't for a minute comment on whether I think it was right, or wrong, or dignified, or undignified, or whatever, to deal with it the way he did. That's his decision to make. I've never even sat in a wheelchair, so, as I said before, It's extremely difficult for me to see it from his perspective, and then make a judgement on his actions.

Gyalist wrote: »

If that's true, it may be in violation of their Public Liability insurance. Are the doormen trained to lift safely? What happens if the there is an emergency evacuation of the premises?

I don’t know how it affects their insurance, but I’ve seen it happen. In fact, on the particular night I’m talking about, the bouncers wouldn’t allow the persons mates bring him down. They insisted the door staff deal with it. I assume they have a similar plan in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Slunk · 10-03-2013 10:55PM

sfwcork wrote: »

Its quite funny how this escalated so quickly

It's not so funny though that someone has lost there job because some idiot feels hard done by

Gyalist · 10-03-2013 10:56PM

Slunk wrote: »

I wonder would the bouncer have a case for unfair dismissal. He was only doing his job. I certainly wouldn't be lifting anyone up and down stairs. Health and safety would be all over that.

The bouncer was contract staff. He'll just not work at that venue again but if his employer has other contracts, he can be reassigned there.

scudzilla · 10-03-2013 10:57PM

Sarannewrap wrote: »

I've been to this place, the entrance in is a set of very steep stairs. Its in the basement, and its tiny! As people have said what was the bouncer meant to do carry him in and out? what if they fell? they are not covered to do such things. Really I would think he was refused in health and safety grounds, its all turned into a big witch hunt as these things normally do.

Sounds about right, well done on him being refused, if a big fire was in there and a wheelchair was a blocking the steep stairs then many would die, yet as there was no fire the club will be getting it in the neck

username123 · 10-03-2013 10:57PM

marcsignal wrote: »

I can understand him being pissed off, but I couldn't for a minute comment on whether I think it was right, or wrong, or dignified, or undignified, or whatever, to deal with it the way he did. That's his decision to make.

I think its fair to say that a one sided internet witch hunt is never the proper way to deal with something.

Slunk · 10-03-2013 11:00PM

Says on Madison fb he has been dismissed and wont be reassigned by the contractor.

johnny_ultimate · 10-03-2013 11:01PM

While I absolutely sympathise with the situation the wheelchair user at the centre of this found himself subjected to, the 'witch hunt' element of this actually made me more angry. Simmer down people: it's an unfortunate incident, but some of the vile comments coming from 'outraged' individuals are so absurdly hyperbolic and worryingly aggressive it's rather embarrassing. Especially when the nightclub has already taken actions to rectify it.

The Internet equivalent of a pitchfork & flaming torch wielding mob. There's an interesting discussion to be had about the issues this incident raises, but **** me that's been lost in a spew of the most medieval of overreactions.

Alactric · 10-03-2013 11:04PM

username123 wrote: »

I think its fair to say that a one sided internet witch hunt is never the proper way to deal with something.

I agree, but it's hardly the mans fault that his honest complaint was turned into a bandwagon. You can say he should have forseen how volatile a public claim of discrimination can be, but he clearly felt legitimately hard done. I don't think either side is 100% right. The Bouncer could have been a real insensitive oaf about it for all we know. Likewise, Bolger should have probably looked into the matter privately and legally.

jluv · 10-03-2013 11:05PM

I also spend a lot of time with a wheelchair user. Yes I do call in advance only because I don't need hassle when I get there. Any venue I have contacted have been great. Now I believe ALL public venues should be in some way accessable. We have gone in side doors,back doors, through kitchens etc but while we have been acceptable to entry by any means i know it's not acceptable to all. I don't really care how we manage it however if someone said no then I would consider then not worthy to be in business.If you cannot accept everyone then your business is not acceptable..

fullgas · 10-03-2013 11:06PM

Slunk wrote: »

Says on Madison fb he has been dismissed and wont be reassigned by the contractor.

Crazy!

Was the bouncer expected to lift him up the stairs at the end of the night? What if there was a fire? Imagine the below scene but with a wheelchair blocking the stairs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo

It is the nightclub's fault for not having the proper facilities, not the bouncers.

Grayson · 10-03-2013 11:06PM

Andy-Pandy wrote: »

If on the off chance we ever did slip while carrying him it would be are fault. We are not c1nts and will take responsibility for are actions. Some of the attitudes on this thread are shocking.

How is it shocking that we think a business that isn't designed to support special needs, refuses to support special needs.

Is it surprising that every taxi cab isn't wheelchair accessible and would you be surprised if a taxi driver refused someone they couldn't cater for?

Public services like Dublin bus have to because they're public services. But taxi's don't.

If he was refused from a club that has an accessible ground floor level because he was in a wheelchair, I'd be outraged. But the clue is in the description, I don't think anyone would describe that premises as wheelchair accessible.

srm23 · 10-03-2013 11:06PM

it'll prob turn out Graham works for Madison

james142 · 10-03-2013 11:06PM

Was just mentioned on FM104 there..

The presenter got the story from this thread :pac:

username123 · 10-03-2013 11:08PM

Alactric wrote: »

I agree, but it's hardly the mans fault that his honest complaint was turned into a bandwagon.

What would be the purpose of posting it on the internet including a photo if not to attract attention though? The text with the image is worded provocatively.

The club were wrong, but creating a big internet stink causing someone to lose their job was worse.

Artful_Badger · 10-03-2013 11:08PM

marcsignal wrote: »

You can put yourself inside the mind of a wheelchair user, who has just been publicly humiliated ? I'm impressed, because I must say, I can't.

I can understand him being pissed off, but I couldn't for a minute comment on whether I think it was right, or wrong, or dignified, or undignified, or whatever, to deal with it the way he did. That's his decision to make. I've never even sat in a wheelchair, so, as I said before, It's extremely difficult for me to see it from his perspective, and then make a judgement on his actions

Because he's in a wheelchair means his humiliation or means of dealing with an issue is different than the rest of us ? Give over.

He was denied entry into a nightclub, plenty of people have for one thing or another. As others have said if he was that humiliated he'd have took the issue up with management in private instead of arguing with the bouncers for 45 minutes and then plastering it all over the internet.

The fact he did deal with it in this manner and cause the outcome he caused coupled with the fact this was the first time he was ever refused entry leads me to believe he's not really the poor humiliated victim people think he is and he didnt handle it in the best of ways.

Grayson · 10-03-2013 11:09PM

Alactric wrote: »

I agree, but it's hardly the mans fault that his honest complaint was turned into a bandwagon. You can say he should have forseen how volatile a public claim of discrimination can be, but he clearly felt legitimately hard done. I don't think either side is 100% right. The Bouncer could have been a real insensitive oaf about it for all we know. Likewise, Bolger should have probably looked into the matter privately and legally.

Did they try messaging them first? If so, I'd like to see if they got a response and if the response was reasonable. Ignoring a message is unacceptable and not stating clearly that they are sorry but... would be unacceptable.

dave1982 · 10-03-2013 11:10PM

If I was him I'd be happy where he was in that pic anyway

Grayson · 10-03-2013 11:10PM

james142 wrote: »

Was just mentioned on FM104 there..

The presenter got the story from this thread :pac:

HEY FM104 MENTION ME!!

LizT · 10-03-2013 11:10PM

Alactric wrote: »

I agree, but it's hardly the mans fault that his honest complaint was turned into a bandwagon. You can say he should have forseen how volatile a public claim of discrimination can be, but he clearly felt legitimately hard done. I don't think either side is 100% right. The Bouncer could have been a real insensitive oaf about it for all we know. Likewise, Bolger should have probably looked into the matter privately and legally.

If he felt hard done by, he could have contacted the management. Instead he chose to publicize it on the internet and intentionally or not, started an online mob.

Wheelchair user refused entry to Dublin Nightclub.

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