A disabled golfer has criticised Ryanair after being told his golf buggy could not be accepted onboard.
Ian St John had booked a flight from Cork Airport to Liverpool in the UK last Saturday.
Mr St John, who was travelling with his mobility scooter and a ParaGolfer golf buggy, told Lunchtime Live he was treated 'appallingly'.
"The ironic thing is, I was scheduled to do an interview with the media department at EDGA - the European Disabled Golf Association - and that was to promote golf for disabled people," he said.
"Here I am talking about the appalling treatment I endured on Saturday by Ryanair at Cork Airport."
Ian St John's Paragolfer buggy. Picture by: RyanairMr St John said he booked the flight a few days ago.
"I have to make sure I have confirmed transportation - that's for me and my golf mahine - to take me from the airport to Formby Hall [golf resort]," he said.
"This can be very hard to get, but I managed to get it."
He said he then filled out an online Ryanair form about bringing his equipment with him.
"I provided all the details, dimensions, etc like I've done with any airline company that I've flown with,” he said
"Once the process is completed you have to press a 'Validate' button; you press that, it sends but there's no proof that you sent it."
A Ryanair Boeing 737 on a runway for takeoff in July 2013. Picture by: Paul Thompson Images / Alamy Stock PhotoMr St John said when he got to the airport, he was advised to speak with a staff member after going through security.
He was asked for the dimensions again and was told "everything was fine."
"A little while later a representative from Swissport informs me that Ryanair will not take the Paragolfer onboard as it exceeds the limits.
"The Swissport rep goes on to say that Ryanair claimed to have emailed me on the Friday and twice on the Saturday that very afternoon to say it wouldn't fit - that is a lie."
1. I cannot begin to describe the humiliation I have been subjected to by @Ryanair at @CorkAirport today. I’m a wheelchair user and denied my electric machine to go on the plane. Consequently No @LFC match tomorrow & withdrawal from @edgagolf tournament @formbyhall pic.twitter.com/HGbIg541Oq
— Ian St John (@Ianstjohngolf) September 2, 2023
In a statement, Ryanair said the golf buggy did not meet their specifications.
The airline said it "sincerely regrets" being unable to accommodate Mr St John, noting that the ParaGolfer machine was “travelling as checked-in baggage”.
Ryanair said Mr St John was sent two email requests to confirm the weight and dimensions of his electric golf buggy, which he failed to respond to.
It said he was also sent a form by email which specified that his electric golf buggy must comply with specific battery, dimensions and weight restrictions.
"He was advised that he could travel in his wheelchair but his electric golf buggy could not be accepted as checked in baggage," Ryanair said.
Mr St John disputes that he was sent these emails.
"I showed the staff at Cork Airport, I showed the Swissport staff, I went through my email," he said.
"I said, 'I have nothing' - do you think I wouldn't respond to something like this?
"I passed my number and my email to the Swissport staff to give to Ryanair, no one called me by email or rang me.
"What was I meant to do?" he added.
