A couple of weeks ago Mary Bermingham contacted the show after her 13 year old son, Thomas Healy, who has cerebral palsy, was refused service in a Turkish barbershop in Cork city.

Mary was understandably very upset about the situation. At the time, we declined to name the shop , mainly because they wouldn’t return calls or speak to us about it, and we felt it was important to get both sides of the story.

This week, another listener contacted us after he, too, was refused service in Poyraz. He had been a regular customer at the barbers… but showing up with his boyfriend was, it seemed, a step too far. He was given no reason, just told to leave.

So… it was time to name and shame. To give them every chance, our reporter Fergal Barry went down to the shop yesterday. He was physically escorted to the door, and they refused to comment. Worse than that, he was followed down the street, and jostled by the same man. You can listen back to the full report at the link above.

Thanks to both listeners for coming forward – I believe both are considering making complaints under the Equal Status Act.

note: this post was edited on 17 April 2017 to remove the name of the second complainant, at his request