This article is from page 4 of the 2012-02-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A DISABLED north Clare mother says she was “humiliated” and “degraded” by the manager of a Clare hotel – who refused to allow her to bring her personal assistant swimming with her and her seven month old baby.
Ann Marie Flanagan, who was the Green Party’s candidate for north Clare in the 2009 local election, says she was made to feel like a cheat and a crook by the hotel manager, who refused to allow her personal assistant free access to the facility, even though she cannot use the facilities without the aid of a trained assistant.
Ms Flanagan, who must use a wheelchair or crutches to get around, says that swimming offers her relief from her debilitating condition.
She is also a spokesperson for the National Advisory Group on Independent Living.
“I was told in no uncertain terms by the general manager of the hotel that my PA would have to pay – he acted as if I was trying to rip the hotel off.
“I explained in great detail but he didn’t seem to understand that I cannot use the facility without the help of my personal assistant,” she said.
“I felt humiliated and really very upset. I thought they would have some understanding of the situation but they made me feel like I was trying to get two for one.
“I need an assistant to get in and get out of the pool, but once I start I am usually okay. I would not be able to hold my son, Robert, in the pool all the time so my assistant helps with that as well. If a person needs a per- sonal assistant they should not have to be degraded by going into the specifics of their own personal condition.” Ms Flanagan has also paid tribute to the Woodstock Leisure Centre in Ennis who have accommodated her, her son and her personal assistant.
“Without even knowing me or anything about me, they were so helpful. I told them that I used a wheelchair and that I had a personal assistant and they were just brilliant. I have been a few times now and they have been very good and very kind,” said Ann Marie.