Student alleges pub refused entry saying ‘no black people allowed’

A student who alleges he was denied access to a Dublin city centre bar because he is black has raised the incident with the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Anathi Thela (27), a South African and masters student at UCD, said he had not heard from management at the bar since the alleged incident on Sunday evening.

Details of the alleged incident emerged when Mr Thela and his friend Azile, also South African, contacted RTE's Liveline on Tuesday to express their disbelief that such an incident could take place.

They said they had met in the city centre and attempted to enter the establishment when the doorman refused them.

“He stretched out his arm and said no black people allowed,” Azile said on the programme.

“It was unbelievable. We didn’t expect it so we wanted him to repeat [IT]. We thought maybe it was identification that they wanted but no he didn’t want that.”

The students said they then spoke to a manager who said they did not have to disclose reasons for refusing entry. He told them the doorman had worked there for 13 years and would not have said what they alleged, they said.

When contacted by the Irish Times, the establishment declined to comment.