Teh One Who Knocks
08-19-2015, 11:30 AM
The Telegraph News Staff
http://i.imgur.com/yJNXUGL.jpg
A toddler was left distraught when he had to leave his Minions "fart blaster" at an airport because it was deemed a security risk.
Leo Fitzpatrick, three, was travelling home from a trip to see his mother's family in Dublin when his Despicable Me toy showed up on the X-ray machine.
Officials asked his mother Daire, 25, to empty his backpack - revealing the plastic megaphone toy, which makes loud fart noises when the trigger is pulled.
The family, from Nottingham, were stunned when security officials said it was not allowed under rules governing replica weapons.
http://i.imgur.com/0myR0zx.jpg
The boy, who had only received the loud speaker as a present from his grandfather the day before, had to put on a brave face while his favourite toy was left behind.
Ms Fitzpatrick said: "He was devastated. He is very well behaved and very polite, and he said 'of course' and left it, but he is very upset and doesn't understand why he's sharing his toy with the man. It was such a shame.
"If you look at it, it's just ridiculous it could be considered a weapon. I mean, would you shake with fear if I pointed a Minions fart blaster at you?
"It just looks like a megaphone - it doesn't look like a gun. I said to the man it can't be construed as a weapon and he said 'I know, but the button looks slightly trigger-like'. I was fuming at the time. I just had to say 'I'm so sorry Leo'."
Ms Fitzpatrick, a stay-at-home mother, had spent three nights on holiday with her partner and Leo, visiting family in her native Dublin.
Leo was given the £25 blaster by his grandfather as a gift and his mother said she had "never seen him smile as much".
On Saturday, the family flew back through the city's airport with Aer Lingus on the 6.30am flight to Birmingham.
Travelling with just hand luggage, Leo put his Spiderman backpack through the scanners at security and Ms Fitzpatrick could see officials pointing at the X-ray.
The mother, who used to work at the airport, explained what the object was to the official, who ushered her and Leo to one side.
But she was amazed when the guard, who Ms Fitzpatrick said revealed his own child had the same toy, said it would have to be left behind.
She said: "I thought he was going to just take it out and realise what it was and that would be that. But he said 'I'm so sorry it's got a trigger, it doesn't even look like a toy gun, but because it has a trigger mechanism it is in writing that I have to take it'.
"Even though the security officer admitted that his child has the same toy and he was fully aware of its function and the reality of its threat level, he said he was forced to take it away.
"It doesn't in any way resemble a weapon. I understand strict airport regulations, but can common sense or compassion not be employed? It was laughable.
"My father had seen him that trip for the first time in maybe six or seven months and had taken him to the toy shop to buy him the toy, which I think makes it worse."
A Dublin Airport spokeswoman said the family surrendered the item after it was spotted at security because replica guns are prohibited.
She said: "We do not seize or confiscate items that are prohibited through the passenger security screening area. If passengers are carrying prohibited items they must be surrendered in order to continue on their journey. While it is unfortunate the Minion toy had to be surrendered it is important to note the following:
"Safety of passengers and security compliance is a priority at Dublin Airport. 1) We do not make up the security rules but we have to apply them.
"2) Toy/replica guns are on the prohibited list for security screening. 3) We are subject to stringent audits on a regular basis, internally and by two external bodies on a national level the other at EU level to ensure compliance. We adopt a consistent approach so there is no confusion for passengers and our staff in the area.
"4) Had this been an auditor on a covert operation with the toy gun we would have failed the compliance test. While we apologised to the family for the inconvenience caused we did say that we would hold onto the Minion toy so the family can collect on return from their holiday."
http://i.imgur.com/yJNXUGL.jpg
A toddler was left distraught when he had to leave his Minions "fart blaster" at an airport because it was deemed a security risk.
Leo Fitzpatrick, three, was travelling home from a trip to see his mother's family in Dublin when his Despicable Me toy showed up on the X-ray machine.
Officials asked his mother Daire, 25, to empty his backpack - revealing the plastic megaphone toy, which makes loud fart noises when the trigger is pulled.
The family, from Nottingham, were stunned when security officials said it was not allowed under rules governing replica weapons.
http://i.imgur.com/0myR0zx.jpg
The boy, who had only received the loud speaker as a present from his grandfather the day before, had to put on a brave face while his favourite toy was left behind.
Ms Fitzpatrick said: "He was devastated. He is very well behaved and very polite, and he said 'of course' and left it, but he is very upset and doesn't understand why he's sharing his toy with the man. It was such a shame.
"If you look at it, it's just ridiculous it could be considered a weapon. I mean, would you shake with fear if I pointed a Minions fart blaster at you?
"It just looks like a megaphone - it doesn't look like a gun. I said to the man it can't be construed as a weapon and he said 'I know, but the button looks slightly trigger-like'. I was fuming at the time. I just had to say 'I'm so sorry Leo'."
Ms Fitzpatrick, a stay-at-home mother, had spent three nights on holiday with her partner and Leo, visiting family in her native Dublin.
Leo was given the £25 blaster by his grandfather as a gift and his mother said she had "never seen him smile as much".
On Saturday, the family flew back through the city's airport with Aer Lingus on the 6.30am flight to Birmingham.
Travelling with just hand luggage, Leo put his Spiderman backpack through the scanners at security and Ms Fitzpatrick could see officials pointing at the X-ray.
The mother, who used to work at the airport, explained what the object was to the official, who ushered her and Leo to one side.
But she was amazed when the guard, who Ms Fitzpatrick said revealed his own child had the same toy, said it would have to be left behind.
She said: "I thought he was going to just take it out and realise what it was and that would be that. But he said 'I'm so sorry it's got a trigger, it doesn't even look like a toy gun, but because it has a trigger mechanism it is in writing that I have to take it'.
"Even though the security officer admitted that his child has the same toy and he was fully aware of its function and the reality of its threat level, he said he was forced to take it away.
"It doesn't in any way resemble a weapon. I understand strict airport regulations, but can common sense or compassion not be employed? It was laughable.
"My father had seen him that trip for the first time in maybe six or seven months and had taken him to the toy shop to buy him the toy, which I think makes it worse."
A Dublin Airport spokeswoman said the family surrendered the item after it was spotted at security because replica guns are prohibited.
She said: "We do not seize or confiscate items that are prohibited through the passenger security screening area. If passengers are carrying prohibited items they must be surrendered in order to continue on their journey. While it is unfortunate the Minion toy had to be surrendered it is important to note the following:
"Safety of passengers and security compliance is a priority at Dublin Airport. 1) We do not make up the security rules but we have to apply them.
"2) Toy/replica guns are on the prohibited list for security screening. 3) We are subject to stringent audits on a regular basis, internally and by two external bodies on a national level the other at EU level to ensure compliance. We adopt a consistent approach so there is no confusion for passengers and our staff in the area.
"4) Had this been an auditor on a covert operation with the toy gun we would have failed the compliance test. While we apologised to the family for the inconvenience caused we did say that we would hold onto the Minion toy so the family can collect on return from their holiday."