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Disfigured man told to leave club Disfigured man told to leave club
(about 2 hours later)
A man with a facial disfigurement who was ordered out of a Belfast nightclub because of his looks has been awarded £2,500 in compensation.A man with a facial disfigurement who was ordered out of a Belfast nightclub because of his looks has been awarded £2,500 in compensation.
Raymond Crowe, 47, from Newtownabbey was told to leave Thompson's Garage in January 2006 after allegedly being told he did not fit their criteria. Raymond Crowe, 47, from Newtownabbey was told to leave Thompsons Garage in January 2006 after allegedly being told he did not fit their criteria.
The father-of-two took his case to the Equality Commission and was awarded an out-of-court settlement in May.The father-of-two took his case to the Equality Commission and was awarded an out-of-court settlement in May.
"I don't go out now because of what happened," he said."I don't go out now because of what happened," he said.
"That night I was out with a couple of friends playing pool and we decided to go to Thompson's. I was allowed in and paid my money. "That night I was out with a couple of friends playing pool and we decided to go to Thompsons. I was allowed in and paid my money.
'Stormed out''Stormed out'
"I was halfway up the stairs with my two friends and the doorman came back and said the manager said I had to leave, that I didn't fit their criteria. I just stormed out."I was halfway up the stairs with my two friends and the doorman came back and said the manager said I had to leave, that I didn't fit their criteria. I just stormed out.
"Now I just don't go out any more. I'm not going to let my wife go through what my friends did, I wouldn't let her go through the embarrassment of that.""Now I just don't go out any more. I'm not going to let my wife go through what my friends did, I wouldn't let her go through the embarrassment of that."
Thompson's Garage also issued Mr Crowe an apology. Thompsons Garage also issued Mr Crowe an apology.
The nightclub is now under new ownership and current proprietor Stephen Boyd said such an incident would not happen again.The nightclub is now under new ownership and current proprietor Stephen Boyd said such an incident would not happen again.
"Like any nightclub we operate a door policy but we would never turn somebody away for a facial disfigurement or any other disability," he said."Like any nightclub we operate a door policy but we would never turn somebody away for a facial disfigurement or any other disability," he said.
"That is not the policy in my club.""That is not the policy in my club."
Anne McKernan, casework director at the Equality Commission NI, said there was no place for such discrimination.Anne McKernan, casework director at the Equality Commission NI, said there was no place for such discrimination.
"Every effort must be made to challenge such treatment when it occurs," she said."Every effort must be made to challenge such treatment when it occurs," she said.