City centre bar inaccessible for wheelchair user

“It is 2023, everywhere should be wheelchair accessible.”

This was the exasperated sentiment of Catchleen O’Brien who spoke to Derry News about a recent incident in which her brother, Jim, was turned away from a city centre pub because he was a wheelchair user.

Catchleen said: “We were invited to our eldest cousin’s surprise 40th birthday party, in Bar Fifty Seven in Waterloo Street. We had to be down before nine o’clock, so we got the taxi down the town with Jim. We lifted him in and out of the taxi no problem. It was my mammy, Jim and me.

“There are steps in Bar Fifty Seven to get up to the top, so we had family members ready to come down the stairs and lift Jim up. That’s what we do if Jim is going to something in the AOH or the Derby, he will get lifted up.

“Outside the bar, the bouncer asked us where we were going. Jim explained that there were family members coming down the stairs to lift him up to the birthday party but the bouncer said we weren’t getting in.

“At that stage I was upset and I said, ‘That’s discrimination’. He said it wasn’t. He also said that none of the bars in Waterloo Street had licences to have wheelchair users in their premises. I said I didn’t think that was right because Jim sometimes went to the Dungloe Bar to get a wee bite to eat. To be honest, I think the bouncer just didn’t want the botheration,” said Catchleen.

Catchleen said her mother and herself were upset because Jim was effectively excluded from a family party because of his disability.

“Can a wheelchair user not have the same rights as an able-bodied person?’ asked Catchleen.

“Jim is quite withdrawn,” added Catchleen. “He hardly leaves his room so for us to actually get him up and out was a big thing. The whole family was going to be there and we wanted our brother along with us.”

Jim (23) told Derry News he had felt like **** when he had been prevented from going into his cousin’s birthday party.

He added: “That’s how anyone would feel if they were told they couldn’t get into a special family party.

“I felt like I was being discriminated against. Because I was a wheelchair user, I couldn’t go to my cousin’s 40th birthday. I had to miss out on that. I don’t go out that much so it was a big deal for me to be there that night.

“The situation needs to be looked at again,” said Jim. “Something needs to be worked out so people who use wheelchairs have access to the same places as everyone else. I think there needs to be more awareness about the needs of people in wheelchairs.

“The way that incident made me feel was not good, so what would it be like for other people with disabilities? It would affect anybody’s mental health not being able to go out and socialise,” said Jim. Catchleen said that as a result of the incident, Jim had not been out of the house since.

She added: “I really want to raise awareness about the challenges faced everyday by people who use wheelchairs. It is 2023, everywhere should be wheelchair accessible.

“I think, maybe, unless you have someone in your family who uses a wheelchair or  know someone who uses a wheelchair, it is hard to understand their daily struggles,” said Catchleen.

Derry News approached Bar Fifty Seven for a comment and a spokesperson said: “The upstairs 57 area of our premises and its facilities , cannot be accessed safely by wheelchair users.”

The O’Brien family held a meeting with Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan (SDLP) following the incident.

Mr Durkan told Derry News: “I've met with the O'Brien family and have contacted Security Industry Authority (SIA) training providers to ensure that inclusion training is included as part of the course. 

"I recognise that efforts are needed to ensure that the business and city as a whole is inclusive, welcoming and as safe as possible for people with all abilities. 

“Obviously some premises aren't readily accessible for people with disabilities; however, legislation would require them to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate everyone. 

“Businesses and society could benefit from more people availing of disability awareness training so that even where admission is regrettably not possible, that this is conveyed with courtesy and explanation."