‘I sat and cried the whole way on the flight’ – woman forced to remove breast prosthesis at Dublin Airport security

Réaltán Ní Leannáin, who is originally from Belfast, was travelling from Dublin Airport to Donegal Airport when a member of security stopped her after new body scanners flagged her breast prosthesis as she passed through.

After telling the female staff member what it was, Ms Ní Leannáin was told to remove it, and did so in a crowded security area last month.

“I sat and cried the whole way on the flight to Donegal after realising what the hell had just happened,” Ms Ní Leannáin, who lives in Lucan, said yesterday.

“I am 15 years out from diagnosis and 15 years wearing a prosthesis. I still find it has affected me more than any single other aspect in those years. It surprised me how much it ­upset me.”

According to airport policy, if a customer activates the walk-through metal detector, a search must be undertaken to establish the cause, with customers having the right to request a private hand search.

Ms Ní Leannáin said she was not offered a private search and was unaware she could request one.

Dublin Airport said it facilitated private searches for passengers to protect their privacy and dignity.

However, Ms Ní Leannáin, who first spoke on Liveline yesterday, has said her “dignity was not protected on that day”.

“I still want to know when I travel what do I say to them,” she said. “I want to know that no other woman post-breast cancer or post-mastectomy will be affected by the implementation of the new technology.

“Glasgow, Donegal and Amsterdam seem to be coping with the new scanning technology much more sensitively than Dublin,” she said, adding that Dublin Airport “must do better”.

DAA, the operator of Dublin Airport, said in a statement it was sorry Ms Ní Leannáin had had a “negative experience”.

“A full investigation into the incident was carried out by the team and the situation should have been handled better,” the DAA said.

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

“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,” the statement added.

The DAA said it welcomed passengers from “all walks of life” on a daily basis and prided itself on offering “high levels of customer service to all” while also adhering to the “extremely strict security requirements” that ensured the safety of passengers and staff.

The airport said it would get back in touch with Ms Ní Leannáin and added that it “looks forward to welcoming her back to Dublin Airport soon, when we can assure her of a much more positive experience”.

Corrinne Hasson, director of services at the Irish Cancer Society, said changes to a person’s body post-surgery can affect a cancer survivors’ self-esteem and confidence.

"We believe people with prostheses deserve a dignified search, and should be made aware that a private space for an airport search is available to make them as comfortable as possible,” she added.

Anyone with questions or concerns about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie.