Woman told to remove artificial breast by security staff at Dublin airport

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A girl who had undergone a mastectomy was requested to remove her breast prosthesis in public whereas going by security scanners at Dublin airport.

Realtán Ní Leannáin was travelling to Donegal when she was left “like a rabbit caught in the headlights” when her artificial breast set off the new scanner know-how.

She told BBC NI’s Evening Extra programme: “The security officer didn’t even offer to pat me down. She stood and waited for me to remove the prosthesis.

“I couldn’t actually think. Every time I attempted to rationalise it, I couldn’t.”

When travelling by different airports corresponding to Amsterdam and Glasgow, she had been briefly searched and had been in a position to clarify her scenario when a triangle and a warning mild seems as soon as the scanner detects the prosthesis.

However, in Dublin she was knowledgeable the security officer wanted to see her prosthesis, with Ms Ní Leannáin unaware she was in a position to request a non-public screening.

“When it was half out she went, ‘Okay, go ahead’. I picked up my bits, sat down for a coffee and that’s when it started to hit me,” she mentioned.

After emailing the DAA, the operator of Dublin airport, she was knowledgeable that they “couldn’t give that answer” when she requested for assurances that the incident wouldn’t happen once more.

She is now asking for airport protocols to be clearly outlined for these in the same place, with data obtainable on airline web sites. She added that it shouldn’t be essential for travellers to ask for personal screenings, and needs to be instantly obtainable.

In response, a DAA spokesperson mentioned that an investigation into the incident discovered that the “situation should have been handled better”.

“We are very sorry that our passenger had a negative experience when travelling through Dublin Airport recently,” they mentioned.

“All passengers in such situations can request a private screening, which is then facilitated by a trained member of staff.

“Regrettably, this did not happen on the day in question. 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.”