RTÉ presenter forced to leave bar to find wheelchair toilet

AN RTÉ radio presenter was forced out onto the street in his wheelchair to search for a toilet because a swish city pub had no facilities accessible to people with disabilities.

Broadcaster Olan McGowan had to leave his college reunion party and go to another nearby pub after Searsons on Baggot Street in Dublin 4 told him none of their toilets had wheelchair access.

The southside watering hole, which is popular with rugby fans, was yesterday slapped with a court order requiring it to comply with the law by providing wheelchair-accessible toilets. It was also ordered to pay Mr McGowan and the Irish Wheelchair Association €500 each.