Scotch Hall opens doors to students after two-day ban
Wednesday December 16 2009
SCHOOL children in Drogheda are now welcome back into Scotch Hall after receiving a twoday ban from the centre - provided they're on their best behaviour.
The management of the centre say they had no choice but to implement the punishment last Friday and Monday, after a recent series of incidents involving groups of pupils.
However, students expressed their anger to the Drogheda Independent on Friday at what they said was discrimination and felt it was unfair to 'tar them all with the same brush'.
'A group of us just tried to go in as normal and get our lunch, but the security guard just said 'you're banned,' said one St Mary's student, who was turned away with his friends.
'I heard that some boys from another school had been throwing rubbish around the place yesterday, but it wasn't us, so I can't believe they are stopping us from spending money the way things are at the moment.'
Scotch Hall responded by saying they were delighted to welcome all age groups into the centre but had to take the drastic action in response to 'a pattern of disrespectful behaviour'.
'We have worked very hard to balance our natural role as the social gathering place for youths with our primary role in providing a safe, friendly shopping environment for our customers,' said manager Mark Morgan.
However, he said in recent weeks, there have been multiple incidents involving groups of students in uniform and a pattern of disrespectful behaviour has been emerging.
'On this occasion, a very large group of students who were roughhousing and yelling, as well as blocking the primary lift and customer walkway, creating a health and safety risk issue for us, and were asked repeatedly to disperse,' he said.
'Most chose to ignore the requests and some were disrespectful in their response to management egged on by the large group around them.'
He said the aim was to send a clear message that the centre was not going to tolerate the disrespectful behaviour to our property or staff that they had been experiencing.
'This action was not taken lightly and in full recognition that unfortunately we would be punishing innocent students who were also shoppers, however, we felt that the behaviour of the students required such action.'
Mr Morgan stresses this was a two-day ban and going forward, all students will be as welcome in Scotch Hall as any of their customers.
'They must, however, recognise there are codes of behaviour that must be respected and any behaviour that seeks to cause damage to the property or undermine our efforts to provide a safe, fun, shopping environment for Scotch Hall customers will not be tolerated,' he concluded.
- Alison COMYN
