MS victim banned from takeaway after she's confused for being 'drunk' (From Thisisdorset)
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MS victim banned from takeaway after she's confused for being 'drunk'
9:46am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Latest By Stephen Bailey
ORDEAL: Marie Kelly, left, with her sister Sophiee-Leigh. Picture: Corin Messer
A WOMAN says she was asked to leave a takeaway for being drunk when she actually has multiple sclerosis.
Marie Kelly, 19 – who has the degenerative nerve disorder, which makes her speech slurred and her walking uneven – was eating at Southern Fried Chicken on Charminster Road in Bournemouth.
She said she was asked to leave and then when she returned a few days later, the manager told her she was banned as she walked out.
Marie, from Charminster, said: “He still hasn’t given me a reason why. I can only put it down to him thinking I was drunk.
“The second time I had a bottle of Appletise and he thought it was beer.
“I don’t drink. He wouldn’t listen. This happens in quite a lot of shops. They look at me as if I am drunk.”
She added: “I want this to be out there so that everyone knows what MS is.”
Sister Sophiee-Leigh Kelly, 13, from Charminster, was there on the second occasion.
She said: “I tried to explain MS to him and that she can’t help the way she walks.
“He said: ‘You are not allowed in here, you are both drunk’.”
Mum Anne Lake, 52, from Boscombe , said: “It’s bad enough she has to live with MS and for this to happen is heart-breaking.”
Takeaway owner Zaki Marstani said that on the first occasion Marie came in she had been persistently asking for one of the staff – Marie said she wanted to return one of his belongings.
Mr Marstani also said he had been informed by his staff that Marie had only been drinking a soft drink the second time she visited.
Mr Marstani said: “I am sorry if she is not well, but I didn’t know.
“We don’t have any issues with anybody. If she wants to come here and sit down and talk about it I am quite happy to do so.
“I felt like it seemed like she is not a well-behaved person. If she is drunk, if she is smoking, I can’t say that, I can’t guess.
He said he is very alert to any potential bad behaviour – especially related to alcohol – because he wants a family-friendly business.
Multiple sclerosis and co-ordination
The MS Trust said: “Slurred speech and swaying whilst walking are typical symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
“MS causes damage to nerves, leading to muscle weakness and lack of co-ordination.
“Many people with MS find heat can make their symptoms worse.
“Sadly, Marie’s experience reflects the lack of public understanding about disability, and MS in particular.”
The MS Society said a survey of 1,419 people with MS carried out in March found 50 per cent had their symptoms mistaken for drunkenness.
Comments(33)
bornINpoole69
says...
12:04pm Tue 4 Sep 12
She and the MS Trust need all the support they can get.
HRH of Boscombe
says...
12:23pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Brooksiebb
says...
1:01pm Tue 4 Sep 12
HRH - you should try SFC chicken when you are sober - it's the best!!!
Winstonchilled
says...
1:26pm Tue 4 Sep 12
.
Even the survey shows it is a easy mistake to make.
.
It was only a few weeks ago when a Southbourne Kebab shop was being blamed as being a source of drinking and loitering.
.
These guys work jolly hard, working all hours, remain calm and friendly, dealing with all sorts of people throughout the day and night.
.
Hardworking guys and food is really tasty.
goatty
says...
1:29pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Cannot blame the shop owner as even the MS Society admit sufferers sound drunk. Its very sad but what else could he do in that situation. I am sure most shop owners would ask someone who appears drunk to leave, and would not get into a medical debate with the person.
High Treason
says...
1:47pm Tue 4 Sep 12
AdamSFC
says...
2:22pm Tue 4 Sep 12
HRH of Boscombe wrote:hahahahahaha so true!!!!!
Aren't drunk people the backbone of these fried chicken/kebab houses? I wouldn't want one sober.
SisterlyLove
says...
3:01pm Tue 4 Sep 12
SFC is a great access to
Charminster and I appreciate it that staff are alert to potential trouble. I've never had a bad experience there, in fact quite the opposite. Both service and food are excellent.
Keep up the good work Mr zaki and co!
Morrigan
says...
3:07pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Sounds to me like she's got a chip on her shoulder and her behaviour may reflect this?
pete woodley
says...
3:26pm Tue 4 Sep 12
y if "kid" sister was with her.
bosco1
says...
3:43pm Tue 4 Sep 12
bornINpoole69
says...
3:53pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Morrigan wrote:she could not have has a CHIP on her shoulder - she was not served!
I too have MS and have been mistaken as drunk a couple of times over the years, but I rather think the owner's comments about her behaviour is a lot more telling than the report would indicate. Sounds to me like she's got a chip on her shoulder and her behaviour may reflect this?
pete woodley
says...
5:39pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
7:20pm Tue 4 Sep 12
pete woodley wrote:You like me are giving opinions on the facts given by the Echo in the report above, or do you know this man and want to give him a character reference? I'm not running down the establishment, whose chicken bits may be succulent, just the ignorant plonker who was insensitive to the young girl.
"cliffy"You do not know the story anymore than any of us,and i doubt if you know anyone involved,so why run down a place you havent visited.
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
7:43pm Tue 4 Sep 12
pete woodley wrote:Well , if I visit this place tonight and buy a meal and if it is bad and I comment on that fact here the comment will be removed. If the meal is ok the comment will stay. So there you go.....distortion of the facts would ensue, dilemma for the Echo who keep wetting themselves everytime they invite an opinion on a story.
"cliffy"You do not know the story anymore than any of us,and i doubt if you know anyone involved,so why run down a place you havent visited.
Bournefre
says...
8:23pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Unfortunately I haven't been recently as they seem to close earlier.
pete woodley
says...
9:07pm Tue 4 Sep 12
wrongun
says...
9:29pm Tue 4 Sep 12
“I felt like it seemed like she is not a well-behaved person. If she is drunk, if she is smoking, I can’t say that, I can’t guess. went in played up got barred nothing to o with ms..
UTDtillIdie
says...
9:53pm Tue 4 Sep 12
vivianda
says...
11:10pm Tue 4 Sep 12
jessicasmama
says...
12:54am Wed 5 Sep 12
vivianda wrote:vivianda - All I can say is thank you for commenting! I just love the fact that this girl has gone to the Echo with a sob story & has been outed as a complete liar in the process! Also, as her picture is shown, everyone will know her face. Maybe I'm just harsh, but I love it when people shoot themselves in the foot like this! :)
I couldn't believe what I was reading in todays echo and as a customer on the said day, I felt I had to comment!!!! MS and discrimination?? What l I saw was a young lady demanding to see one of the staff (a young man who was hiding in the back of the restaurant). She was told politely by the owner that she couldn't see him while he was working. She would'nt take no for an answer and kept on and on. She didn't seem drunk, just very rude and demanding and I think the owner was right to ban her, for the sake of his customers. As for having M.S why on earth didn't she say so instead of going to the echo??
hamworthygirl
says...
6:32am Wed 5 Sep 12
Lord Spring
says...
7:43am Wed 5 Sep 12
I would have thought with health problems they would have..
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
8:25am Wed 5 Sep 12
pete woodley wrote:Sorry Pete , just winding you up a bit .Hope you have a good day! This story is obviously a bit dull, and there are always two sides to an arguement- which we don't know if we are not there.
Cliffy,you still dont know the facts do you,only what you read.Dont believe everything you read.Do you go around calling people ignorant plonkers ?.Sure way to get a smack in the teeth.
pete woodley
says...
9:03am Wed 5 Sep 12
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
9:14am Wed 5 Sep 12
pete woodley wrote:I like Hamworthygirls post above, well written and probably nearest the truth.
Cheers cliffy.I too am glad that someone has told the truth.
BournemouthMum
says...
8:20am Thu 6 Sep 12
alanhl
says...
9:43am Thu 6 Sep 12
pete woodley
says...
12:41pm Thu 6 Sep 12
alanhl wrote:Good one less person to cause trouble.
i can understand her attitude a bit, it must be very frustrating to be unable to communicate properly, i feel sorry for her, particularly as the person she was trying to contact was hiding in the rear of the shop and being protected by the owner, no i wont eat from there again
pete woodley
says...
12:42pm Thu 6 Sep 12
alanhl wrote:Good one less person to cause trouble.
i can understand her attitude a bit, it must be very frustrating to be unable to communicate properly, i feel sorry for her, particularly as the person she was trying to contact was hiding in the rear of the shop and being protected by the owner, no i wont eat from there again
Dog friendly 1
says...
1:44pm Thu 6 Sep 12
High Treason wrote:Agree with High Treason - surely to banish these issues, a card from your GP stating your condition and visual side effects could eliminate a majority of situations like this .
Common sense would ensure she carried a letter from her doctor explaining how the disorder can affect people at times.
Lowe123
says...
12:42pm Wed 12 Sep 12
BIGTONE says...
12:03pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Like many other people he can only base his decisions on what he sees.