GARDAÍ ARE to examine closed circuit television footage of a Drogheda nightclub following conflicting accounts of an alleged racist assault there on Monday night.
Dr Syed Kamran Bukhari, one of 100 doctors recruited from Pakistan by the Health Service Executive in July 2011, has made a formal complaint to the Garda alleging he was kicked, slapped and racially abused in Storm nightclub.
Dr Bukhari, who works for Louth-Meath Mental Health Services, said he went to the club with two colleagues from Pakistan.
While dancing on his own, he said he was abused by a young woman who later returned to slap and kick him. He said the incident was viewed by a number of people, including the woman’s friends, one of whom, he said, had tried to restrain her. He also claimed security men on the door laughed at him when he complained and produced his card identifying him as a psychiatric worker.
The Garda has confirmed that a formal complaint was filed on Tuesday night and the incident is being investigated.
Dr Bukhari said yesterday he had been told by an investigating garda that the CCTV footage would be requested today. He said he was pleased that after an apparent initial difficulty, he was “now being listened to”.
A spokesman for the club management, Liam Hodson, said he did not believe the CCTV footage would support Dr Bukhari’s allegations in relation to the chain of events or the allegation of assault.
Mr Hodson told The Irish Timeshe was in the club on Monday night and his recollection of events was different from that of Dr Bukhari. He had a preliminary conversation with gardaí and expected to be speaking to them again.
He said CCTV footage remained available and would be given to gardaí if requested.
Dr Bukhari, whose contract with the HSE lasts until July 2013, said he had planned to return to Pakistan at the end of this month to make arrangements to bring his family here. He said this was now in doubt as he did not want his family to suffer racial abuse.
Dr Bukhari added that the incident in the nightclub was not the first time racial abuse had been directed at him. He said it was particularly unfair as he had come to Drogheda to be of service to the community.
Storm nightclub, which is closed during the week, is expected to open as usual tonight.
