Mc Donalds Security Grafton St Dublin

JCPhotography · 24-10-2010 12:00am #1

I still cant believe what happened to me yesterday morning in Mc Donalds on Grafton St Dublin.

I entered the Trinity st car park at 11.15am (as printed on the ticket), parked, got sorted and headed towards Grafton st, arriving there about 11.30am. I fancied a coffee and apple pie and needed to use the toilet too, having driven for an hour or so, so best bet, Mc Donalds. In I went and headed for the gents. There I assumed the position and well, you know the rest. About 3 or 4 minutes passed and there was a bang on the cubicle door. I shouted, "theres someone in here". Then there was a violent hammering on the door and bellowing "come out, come out now". I shouted back, "i'll be two minutes" and began to sort myself."no two minutes, open the door" and more violent hammering. I shouted out "who is that, is that security?" there was no answer, just pure aggression and constant shouting "open the door, open the door". I shouted back, "let me get my trousers up" and he shouted, "no trousers, open the door" at this point, I was in genuine fear for my safety, thinking I was being attacked, but knew that if I didnt open the door, it was coming in on top of me. So, barely cleaned, and barely dressed, I opened the door and there was a big african man there. It was not immediately obvious whether he was security, and when i asked, again he didnt say. "what were you doing in there" he screamed at me. "having a poo" i said (ok, i never say poo, but it just came out, shock maybe). You were in there 15 minutes he said. No, No i said, just 3 or 4. "You were in there 15 minutes, why". Still shaking and terrified, i fumbled for my car parking ticked and showed him the time printed on it which proved i could not have been anything like 15 minutes in there, but he said "no, i looked under door, you were there 15 minutes and then he walked out, apparently happy that i wasn't a terrorist, thief or paedophile and leaving me with a few embarrassed customers. Now I'm a grown man, but will admit to being shaken and almost close to tears. I steadied myself and spoke to the duty manager at the store, who was apologetic and said he'd have words. I showed him my car park ticket and he agreed i wasn't in the store more than 5 minutes. It absolutely ruined my day, and tbh, its still troubling me now. Are genuine decent members of the public powerless against this sort of attack? ..because thats how I feel, as though I was assaulted in a Mc Donalds toilet at 11.30am yesterday morning.

Cavehill Red · 24-10-2010 12:01am

Paragraphs are your friend.
McDonald's staff less so, apparently.

Agent Smith · 24-10-2010 12:02am

I'd call Joe duffy...

JCPhotography · 24-10-2010 12:55am

I don't know if Joe Duffy would be interested. Its not such a big story, only to me I guess. (New Paragraph)

Btw, I didn't mention, but he told me that he 'knew' I was in there 15 minutes because he'd looked under the door!! ..kinda like when the car park attendents at Tesco walk around the car park and take down reg numbers in case you've gone into town shopping. I'm just shocked that such a thing could happen, all aspects of it, and I have no comeback at all.

foggy_lad · 24-10-2010 2:26am

If this person is security he should have identification. He is more likely a manager or other employee charged with keeping junkies out of the toilets and follows in anyone that just walks in off the street and straight to the toilets without first ordering food. Sadly just a sign of the times that junkies will try anywhere including a McDonald's full of kids to shoot up.

Tigger · 24-10-2010 2:27am

He assaulted you have you contacted the manager yet. I'd have Turkic it was me demand the CCTV footage and take it from there

foggy_lad · 24-10-2010 2:40am

Make a complaint to the guards as this guys behaviour was threatening abusive and quite possibly indecent if he was looking under the door at you having a pooh!

x in the city · 24-10-2010 2:42am

foggy_lad wrote: »

Make a complaint to the guards as this guys behaviour was threatening abusive and quite possibly indecent if he was looking under the door at you having a pooh!

call the paragraph police while you are at it

24-10-2010 2:47am

I think staff really frown on McShíts.

falan · 24-10-2010 2:48am

x in the city wrote: »

call the paragraph police while you are at it

Also call the punctuation police.

ArtSmart · 24-10-2010 2:52am

Have to say, that was a very unpleasant experience.
not sure if there's a legal remedy, but they might give an offer with the threat of an action - as they should because that way, they will be more inclined to ensure proper security procedures.

JCPhotography · 24-10-2010 2:53am

I have called the paragraph police, so thats sorted.

As for the other, I cannot see that anything he did was by the book. Every aspect of how I was treated is shocking. It's difficult to describe just how threatening and violent the episode was, albeit without any physical contact. The duty manager said he'd have words with the guy but maybe I will speak with the Gardai about this. Thanks for the advice guys

johnn · 24-10-2010 2:54am

He probably thought you were smuggling in a Whopper to eat

ArtSmart · 24-10-2010 3:00am

JCPhotography wrote: »

I have called the paragraph police, so thats sorted.

As for the other, I cannot see that anything he did was by the book. Every aspect of how I was treated is shocking. It's difficult to describe just how threatening and violent the episode was, albeit without any physical contact. The duty manager said he'd have words with the guy but maybe I will speak with the Gardai about this. Thanks for the advice guys

well I'd go the civil, rather than criminal route tbh. still, prob no harm mentioning it to them - but they can only pursue it if you make a statement and then if the Garda Superintendent wants to go ahead with it, which i would doubt.

JCPhotography · 24-10-2010 3:08am

Yeah, I see what you mean. And in town yesterday, there was probably several muggings, maybe drug related arrests, shop lifting, accidents and the like. And then I turn up complaining that a security man shouted at me. As you said, it was a very unpleasant experience, but maybe one to forget about, asap.

borderlinemeath · 24-10-2010 6:39am

JCPhotography wrote: »

Yeah, I see what you mean. And in town yesterday, there was probably several muggings, maybe drug related arrests, shop lifting, accidents and the like. And then I turn up complaining that a security man shouted at me. As you said, it was a very unpleasant experience, but maybe one to forget about, asap.

I would definately follow this up with management in store - it's absolutely innappropriate behaviour from somebody who is meant to be protecting the fee paying customers like yourself from the likes of junkies and pickpockets that will lurk around that general area. (there's a little lane just opposite the side door of BTs that about 10 junkies sleep in/shoot up in every night.)

It may be a case of mistaken identity but the aggression described and the lack of apology from the trained monkey (you said you got an apology from the manager) who verbally attacked you is unwarranted unless they are 100% sure of who they're dealing with.

MunsterCycling · 24-10-2010 8:09am

If the restaurant has employed this individual as security and they are not a registered security operative then they have committed an offence. The area is regulated by: http://www.psa.gov.ie/

doleman2010 · 24-10-2010 9:32am

Still too many of these so called security guards in shops etc that are not PSA reg , have a look next time you are out and about for visible id on these monkeys, just not there in a lot of cases ,

wyndham · 24-10-2010 10:49am

Did you get your apple pie and coffee? On the house?

JCPhotography · 24-10-2010 12:09pm

Hey, thanks for the replies guys.

As for identification. At no time did he state that he was a security guard and he had no markings on his clothes identifying his company.

I'll speak with the store or area manager during the week. Thanks again guys for the great advice.

Welease · 24-10-2010 6:11pm

I would just write a letter of complaint to the manager of that particular store, and see if their response satisfies you..

Taking it any further is most liklely a waste of time/money, but if noone says anything then that particular security guard is unlikely to be told his behaviours is unacceptable irrespective of his reasons.

Worst case situation, vote with you wallet and don't provide them with your custom again.

maneno · 24-10-2010 6:47pm

i understand the plight of the op,and he should complain to mgt but its abit offensive that some people are calling africans monkeys,really pathetic

borderlinemeath · 24-10-2010 7:06pm

maneno wrote: »

i understand the plight of the op,and he should complain to mgt but its abit offensive that some people are calling africans monkeys,really pathetic

Just reread the OP and only noticed now that the security guard was african!! It didn't register during my speedread of the big paragraph!

My intention of the use of the phrase "trained monkey" is in reference to the phrase " if you pay peanuts.." and most security guards that I have worked with have been Irish and worthy of the phrase imo..

Apologies if any offence caused...absolutely not intended!!

BrianD · 24-10-2010 7:24pm

While the behaviour of the security guard was over the top you have to remember that the toilets are for customers use only. However, I don't know why they would want to enforce this with such zeal.

On the other side of the coin there was a horrific case a few years ago where a girl with a mental disability was raped in the toilet of a fast food restaurant on Grafton St.

Probably no harm that they have policing of the loos but you'd kind of prefer heavy action against the people doing wrong.

A previous poster is right, send a letter to the manager.

doleman2010 · 24-10-2010 8:19pm

AS always when these incidents occur we always have some joker trying to play the RACE CARD.
Not all security guards are african ,not all africans are security guards, not all security guards are legit,

johnn · 24-10-2010 8:33pm

maneno wrote: »

i understand the plight of the op,and he should complain to mgt but its abit offensive that some people are calling africans monkeys,really pathetic

Racist.

They were calling them Monkeys which is a common term for big security guards. You decided it was about race.

maglite · 24-10-2010 8:40pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIS8Ao7S1CY

African monkey security guard

wyndhurst · 24-10-2010 8:56pm

Complaint to Gardai? - You're kidding??? I hope they arrest you for wasting their time.
You should have just grown a pair and told the guy to ...uck off

johnn · 24-10-2010 9:03pm

BrianD wrote: »

While the behaviour of the security guard was over the top you have to remember that the toilets are for customers use only. However, I don't know why they would want to enforce this with such zeal.

On the other side of the coin there was a horrific case a few years ago where a girl with a mental disability was raped in the toilet of a fast food restaurant on Grafton St.

Probably no harm that they have policing of the loos but you'd kind of prefer heavy action against the people doing wrong.

A previous poster is right, send a letter to the manager.

The manager would probably sooner wipe his Arse with your letter than do anything about it TBF, and rightly so

borderlinemeath · 24-10-2010 9:11pm

johnn wrote: »

The manager would probably sooner wipe his Arse with your letter than do anything about it TBF, and rightly so

:eek:

Believe it or not some managers actually value feedback regarding staff.

For all you know the manager might have had issues in the past with the particular security guard and a serious complaint could be the decision to terminate their employment.

dudara · 24-10-2010 9:20pm

This isn't really a Consumer Issue. i'm going to try Legal Discussion.

dudara

Mc Donalds Security Grafton St Dublin

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