Newsmedianews | account of ill treatment and lack of advocacy

Copy of letter by Mr A.
Names and locations have been omitted.

18 October 2001
Dear *****,
Following on from our telephone conversation of Friday, 12 October. I first give you some information concerning myself as I consider it pertinent.
I am 52-years-old and in receipt of a disability pension due to medical conditions. I am also a fully qualified and well respected journalist who has worked hard in staff journalism for over 20 years and I have managed a news room for five years as a chief reporter with Southern Newspapers, one of the UK's largest newspaper groups. I am quite capable of behaving correctly in public and consider any unwarranted insinuation otherwise as a slur upon my personal reputation and character. I do not believe in violence and have no favour toward those who descend to such.
I am a law-abiding and peaceful man who currently operates an international editing service, details of which are on this letterhead.
To refer now to the matters of Thursday, 11 October.
I visited the main bar of the **** Hotel at about 4pm where I occupied a seat at the bar by the front door. Later I met with and conversed for a short while with some English residents who were in the bar and we exchanged pleasantries with each other and your bar staff. I had not been drinking alcohol at any other stage during the day. I had a total of two beers at your bar and as I had a small bag of shopping with me I then decided to return home, although it was my intention to call in later to see the band that was due to play in the downstairs bar later that evening.
I returned to the main bar at perhaps between 8pm to 9pm and occupied a seat alone by the front door. I carried my guitar with me. I have also worked as a professional musician for many years in the UK, Ireland, the US and Europe, although I am no longer as active as I used to be in that scene at this point.
Some time after my return, two of the three English guests I had met earlier returned to the bar and I rejoined them briefly to say hello, although I was not intending to stay long. I enjoyed two beers and then, intending to leave, spoke briefly with your young bar man, and mentioned that I was heading off downstairs to see the band, as he had told me earlier that the band **** was due to play.
To my utter astonishment the young man bluntly stated "You won't be going down there".
I have to admit that this comment left me a little speechless and also disturbed that someone could see fit to pass such comment given the actual circumstances. I was minding my own quiet business and as I had enjoyed a full meal a short while previously was most certainly not intoxicated nor even approaching such.
The conversation then pursued the following lines:
Myself: I beg your pardon?
Barman: You won't be going down there.
Myself: Why are you saying that to me? I don't understand.
Barman: You've had too much to drink.
Myself: Are you saying you won't serve me another drink?
The barman replied by stating that was correct, he would not serve me. Astounded by this I collected my guitar and prepared to leave. In doing so I asked the barman just what the problem was as I failed to understand such treatment. I paused half way to the door and as his attention was towards me I again asked what the problem was and repeated that I did not understand.
I then observed the barman come from behind the bar and go out into the street and a few moments later two other staff came in by the front door and grabbed me. No questions were asked and I was physically grabbed. In my book and according to law this represents a criminal assault on my person, as I was not interfering with anyone whatsover.
Your 'door staff' grabbed me very forcibly and one of them held my neck in such a way as to practically cut off my breathing and as they then dragged me out of the door I called out to some passersby that they were witness to what was taking place.
Outside the premises I collected myself and spoke with your staff. At first they told me to go away but I stood my ground in the street and attempted to speak with them. I stated that I did not understand any reason for what had happened.
I stated that I had no particular grudge against them, they were doing what they considered was their job but I did point out to them that their actions had in fact been quite incorrect.
Their manner to me was less than polite and certainly not very respectful.
I ask you to understand my frame of mind at the time. Shocked at what had happened and at the rough treatment I had received, I was understandably angered. Such behaviour on their part is neither fitting nor right. After further exchanges of words, including my telling someone who passed by and told me to shut up to mind their own business, I left the area and went elsewhere, where I relaxed in pleasant company for a short while before then reporting the incident at the Garda station and returning to my home.
I did not remove my guitar from its case until the following day, Thursday, when I then found that the neck of the guitar had been snapped beyond any repair, rendering the instrument completely useless. I again contacted the Garda at Henry Street to report this matter.
This is an instrument I have owned for over seven years and it has travelled widely in the world. It is an instrument I have taken the greatest care of and is the only one I have. Replacing the guitar, a Fender electric acoustic, with an instrument of equal value and type would cost at least £250.
The damage to the guitar occurred whilst I was being roughly manhandled from your premises for no good reason and the extent and severity of the damage indicates the degree of force used by your staff. I stress to you that it is not possible for the damage to have occurred elsewhere. I am not in any position to replace this instrument and as a direct result of the actions of your staff now do not have a working guitar.
This is an honest account of what took place and I view this matter in a most serious light.
I would be happy with replacement of the damaged instrument with one of equal type and an apology regarding such outlandish treatment and my request of settlement is not negotiable.
I now look to you for your response.
Your faithfully,

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