Airport Promises To Investigate After Cancer Survivor Forced To Remove Breast Prosthesis
A woman was forced to remove her breast prosthesis in public after it set off security scanners at Dublin Airport.
Réaltán Ní Leannáin underwent a mastectomy 15 years ago after a cancer diagnosis. When the passenger explained that she was wearing a prosthesis to a member of the security staff, Ní Leannáin claims she was told to remove it in front of other passengers.
- A woman was made to remove her breast prosthesis at Dublin Airport, triggering public outcry.
- Réaltán Ní Leannáin underwent a mastectomy 15 years ago following a cancer diagnosis.
- Dublin Airport apologized and admitted the situation could've been "handled better."
The incident took place last month when Ní Leannáin was traveling from Dublin to Donegal.
“I sat and cried the whole way on the flight to Donegal after realizing what the hell had just happened,” the woman said.
Réaltán Ní Leannáin says airport staff at Dublin Airport told her to remove her breast prosthesis after it activated a body scanner
Image credits: Réaltán Ní Leannáin
“I am 15 years out from diagnosis and 15 years wearing a prosthesis. I still find it has affected me more than any single other aspect in those years. It surprised me how much it upset me.”
The airport policy states that passengers have a right to request a private search in a separate room if they activate a body scanner. However, Ní Leannáin wasn’t aware of this possibility and wasn’t offered the chance to remove her prosthesis away from the crowd.
Speaking with RTE Liveline, the Belfast native said her “dignity was not protected on that day.”
The Irish woman underwent a mastectomy 15 years ago and has worn a prosthesis ever since
Image credits: Pexels/Guilherme Rossi
Now, she wants to share her case to ensure it doesn’t happen to other women who have experienced such traumatic situations in the past.
“I still want to know when I travel what do I say to them,” Ní Leannáin said.
“I want to know that no other woman post-breast cancer or post-mastectomy will be affected by the implementation of the new technology.”
She added: “Glasgow, Donegal, and Amsterdam seem to be coping with the new scanning technology much more sensitively than Dublin.”
“I sat and cried the whole way on the flight,” the affected passenger said
Image credits: Pexels/Oleksandr P
Dublin Airport operator DAA has shared a statement in response to the situation, offering an apology to the passenger for her “negative experience.”
The DAA wrote: “The team carried out a full investigation into the incident, and the situation should have been handled better.”
“All passengers in such situations can request a private screening, which is then facilitated by a trained member of staff.
“We offer a full apology to the passenger and can assure her that steps have been taken to ensure a similar situation is avoided in the future.”
Furthermore, the airport said it would get back in touch with Ní Leannáin and added that it “looks forward to welcoming her back to Dublin Airport soon, when [they] can assure her of a much more positive experience,” as per the Irish Independent.
Bored Panda has contacted Réaltán Ní Leannáin and Dublin Airport for comment.
People sided with the passenger, labeling the incident as “degrading and disrespectful”
Fúcking hell. I don't travel often (only went abroad about 3 times), so I don't really know how security checks work, so if I was in this situation, I wouldn't know to ask for a private room. To think that my own country's main airport could subject ANYONE to ANYTHING of the sort that this woman had to go through is horrific. Publicly humiliating her is completely sick, and she should have been made aware of the fact that she could have gone to a private room to have the check.
Sue the hellllll out of them. I don't know about Ireland, but in Spain there's this wonderful NGO that will give you emotional, psychological and legal assessment to cover any situation you might encounter as a cancer patient. This would be a clear case for them.
Oh man... thinking about how upset she must have been to cry on the fight, makes me cry. I feel so sorry for her, that's just horrible. I wish I was there to hug her and to tell them to suck it instead of her. Poor lady.
i've only flown once with my diabetic devices/implants and it was a true emergency or i wouldn't have (my sister was comatose from a car accident). i was expecting a hard time from the TSA in the US because it's been an issue for anyone with prostheses or implants for well over a decade. i, a cis female, was required to pull my shirt up to just under my bra and then rub my own hands over my abdomen and implants. then they swabbed my hands for explosive residue. i had allowed a couple of hours to get through security but the lines were so long that i was cutting time close on making my flight. i knew i could ask for a private screening but it was not offered to me and i didn't want to risk delays/missing my flight. so this all happened just the other side of the scanner while i was also arguing with the other TSA agent about not putting my insulin pump through the xray machine. apparently they will also confiscate insulin if they think you have "too much" with you. in tiny vials...
My great aunt was required to remove her's in 1992. She just ripped open her blouse pulled it out and stated, "I am just an old lady from Vegas (actually an hour away) but here you go. Enjoy boys!" 🤣 Se was awesome and I miss her.
She needs a medical letter from a doctor carried thru entire process to prevent it EVER happening again. Similar to someone that has had a knee or hip replacement has metal holding them together and requires a medical letter from doctor when going thru security. Poor lady. In front of everyone. Hope whoever made her do it and whomever else watched ALL got Fired!
Fúcking hell. I don't travel often (only went abroad about 3 times), so I don't really know how security checks work, so if I was in this situation, I wouldn't know to ask for a private room. To think that my own country's main airport could subject ANYONE to ANYTHING of the sort that this woman had to go through is horrific. Publicly humiliating her is completely sick, and she should have been made aware of the fact that she could have gone to a private room to have the check.
Sue the hellllll out of them. I don't know about Ireland, but in Spain there's this wonderful NGO that will give you emotional, psychological and legal assessment to cover any situation you might encounter as a cancer patient. This would be a clear case for them.
Oh man... thinking about how upset she must have been to cry on the fight, makes me cry. I feel so sorry for her, that's just horrible. I wish I was there to hug her and to tell them to suck it instead of her. Poor lady.
i've only flown once with my diabetic devices/implants and it was a true emergency or i wouldn't have (my sister was comatose from a car accident). i was expecting a hard time from the TSA in the US because it's been an issue for anyone with prostheses or implants for well over a decade. i, a cis female, was required to pull my shirt up to just under my bra and then rub my own hands over my abdomen and implants. then they swabbed my hands for explosive residue. i had allowed a couple of hours to get through security but the lines were so long that i was cutting time close on making my flight. i knew i could ask for a private screening but it was not offered to me and i didn't want to risk delays/missing my flight. so this all happened just the other side of the scanner while i was also arguing with the other TSA agent about not putting my insulin pump through the xray machine. apparently they will also confiscate insulin if they think you have "too much" with you. in tiny vials...
My great aunt was required to remove her's in 1992. She just ripped open her blouse pulled it out and stated, "I am just an old lady from Vegas (actually an hour away) but here you go. Enjoy boys!" 🤣 Se was awesome and I miss her.
She needs a medical letter from a doctor carried thru entire process to prevent it EVER happening again. Similar to someone that has had a knee or hip replacement has metal holding them together and requires a medical letter from doctor when going thru security. Poor lady. In front of everyone. Hope whoever made her do it and whomever else watched ALL got Fired!
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