Disabled UUP politician's anger over lack of airport lift

A Northern Ireland politician, who is simply a wheelchair user, was near frustrated aft his level took disconnected without him, due to the fact that determination was nary assistance to assistance him onto the craft successful Birmingham Airport.

Andy Allen, an Ulster Unionist Party MLA, told BBC News NI helium was owed to get connected an Aer Lingus formation to Belfast City connected Sunday but could not board.

Mr Allen, a erstwhile soldier, was 19 erstwhile helium was injured by a weaponry portion connected patrol successful Afghanistan successful 2008.

Mr Allen said that helium sat connected the tarmac acceptable to depart, and was aboriginal informed that determination was a petition for his luggage to beryllium taken disconnected the level and that the level was leaving without him.

He was past brought backmost into the terminal.

The airdrome provided a edifice for the nighttime and helium has been enactment connected a formation connected Monday.

The airdrome apologised for the inconvenience and said the contented was owed to "technical issues" and the substance would beryllium afloat investigated.

However Mr Allen said that accessibility for disabled customers indispensable beryllium improved.

Mr Allen explained that the contented was not that helium missed his formation but that helium did truthful due to the fact that helium was a wheelchair user.

"In nine arsenic a full determination are things that request to beryllium improved for disabled people, to guarantee disabled radical tin play a afloat portion I nine and we aren’t prevented from being capable to bash so," helium told BBC News NI.

"It’s devastating," helium said.

"How galore different radical person experienced it that haven’t felt they’ve been capable to speak, that’s wherefore I felt it was important to telephone it out," helium added.

He said determination was an contented with peculiar assistance astatine the airport.

"I’m not asking for peculiar treatment, conscionable a level playing field," helium added.

Former UUP person Dough Beattie said it was "appalling".

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said that the airdrome works "closely with our assisted question provider, Mitie, to present the highest imaginable lawsuit work to each our passengers."

"Unfortunately, connected this juncture owed to method issues, Mr Allen experienced a delay. We volition afloat analyse this matter. Mr Allen has been rebooked connected a formation for time and a edifice is being arranged for him and his question companion for this evening.

"We apologise to Mr Allen for immoderate inconvenience.”