Sheriff takes issue with eatery that turned Travellers away

A Traveller was within his rights to accuse front-of-house staff at a restaurant of racism when they barred him and his wife from entry, a sheriff said yesterday.

Preventing people from entering on the basis that they are members of the Travelling community was “no different from banning Jews or Catholics”, Sheriff Derek Livingston said.

Falkirk Sheriff Court was told Alexander Maughan, 18, had gone to The Boardwalk, near the Falkirk Wheel, with his wife on September 4 last year.

Their way was barred by two members of staff because there had been “previous issues” with people living in a Travellers camp which had been in the vicinity.

Susan Campbell, prosecuting, said: “They were advised they had to leave because of these previous issues.”

Sheriff Livingston interrupted: “Is there not an issue with this?

“Is this any more appropriate than saying we’re not serving Catholics or we’re not serving Jews?”

Maughan, now of the Riverside Caravan Site, Queensferry, near Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, Wales, pleaded guilty to behaving aggressively and refusing to leave licensed premises, contrary to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. He also admitted that he initially gave a false name to police when they arrived at the scene. He was fined £325.