Morning:
13°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
Ministry of Defence spent £149 million on an "urgent" upgrade to 900 tanks that are now only being used in training exercises, it was revealed
More...
Soldiers turned away from bar after funeral
Last updated at 16:07pm on 24.11.06
Cpl Nowak, who died on Remembrance Day in Iraq. His friends were turned away from a Liverpool bar after his funeral because they were in uniform
Two Royal Marines were refused entry to a bar just hours after a colleague's funeral because they were in uniform.
The two servicemen went for a drink at the Walkabout bar in Liverpool city centre following the funeral of Corporal Ben Nowak at the city's Anglican cathedral.
Cpl Nowak, 27, who served with 45 Commando, was one of four people killed in a bomb attack on a patrol boat in southern Iraq on Remembrance Sunday.
His two colleagues, who were among 1,000 mourners at yesterday's funeral, were turned away by staff at the door of the bar. Stunned bystanders shouted at the bouncers and told them to show respect to the servicemen.
Student Ben Booth, who witnessed the event, said he was shocked by what he saw. He told BBC Radio Merseyside's phone-in show: "I spoke to the bouncers and said their colleague had just died in the service of our Government. I am absolutely shocked that people would act this way to our soldiers."
A spokesman for Walkabout said: "As a responsible bar operator, we have a strict policy of refusing entry to anyone believed to be aggressive.
"Furthermore, Walkabout in Liverpool has a strict policy of refusing entry to anyone in uniform due to previous issues with uniformed customers. These policies are designed solely to increase the safety and comfort of all our customers.
"Two of the group were in uniform and doorstaff believed that other members of the group were behaving aggressively, so they were refused admission."
The spokesman offered his condolences to Cpl Nowak's friends, comrades and family and offered the group who were turned away a complimentary lunch. He stressed the soldiers must not be in uniform.
Reader views (6)
This makes me so sad, that people could possibly treat soldiers like this. The most honorable men and women, turned away? It's absolutely ridiculous. What is this world coming to?
- Kait Hurley, Maryland, USA
Yet another case of one rule for one group, another rule for a different group.
- Sean Barlow, Wickford, England
Sad though it is, banning soldiers in uniform is widespread in pubs the Uk. I doubt if the soldiers would have been refused entry to a normal pub in Liverpool - as opposed to a trendy city centre one - in fact I'm sure they wouldn't have had to put their hand in their pocket all night. But companies who operate bars catering to younger drinkers have a blanket instruction for the doormen they use: anything that looks like it might cause trouble doesn't get in. I spent twenty two years in the army and never wore uniform outside my time on duty for the simple reason that I did not wish to be embroiled in idiotic arguments with drunks about what I did for a living. Soldiers wore uniform in their leisure time years ago because they were required to but this has not been the case since the 60s.
- Jamesy, Warrington
I can only say I am totally disgusted. These brave young men fight for this country facing more dangers on a daily basis than most of us do in a lifetime. Recently we were shown the hero's welcome and respect the Canadians show their troops who return after a tour of duty, as should we! What a stark contrast.
If I owned a club I would fly the flag outside with pride and treated those marines like the brave hero's they are.
Totally shocking treatment, no excuses from the club please, just makes my blood boil. Pathetic.
- Paul Smith, Gloucestershire
Looks like another one to add to the "boycot list" along with Harrods who adopted the same type of policy - though I am sure for different reasons.
My daughter is a student in Liverpool which is a great city and the "scousers" are genuinley warm and down to earth folks, she has been told not to go near Walkabout Bar as I don't want any child of mine being connected with such an establishment.
"Royal" may well have been on a piss up - but so are all the other student who go there with rubber legs every weekend and they don't ban them.
The bouncers were only doing as they were told in line with their instructions- they probably didn't realise who they were actually turning away that day. "No ordinary men" I can tell you.
- Dusty Miller, N Wales
I would hope that the people of Liverpool would show their customary generosity and solidarity with our servicemen and women as well as their contempt for this appalling act of discrimination by boycotting the Walkabout bar - permanently. Only the other day government ministers were asking about how we might as a nation show more appreciation of the qualities of servicemen. Nothing could demonstrate more clearly how we let them down than not supporting them when they go off duty in uniform. Are we still in era of "Tommy go away." ?
- Peter Haldane, London
