Irish heartthrobs Westlife have been forced to apologise after a seating mishap at their Glasgow concert reportedly saw disabled fans told to “stand or go home”.
Less than an hour before the start of the show at the city’s SSE Hydro, fans were told that their seated tickets were no longer valid, after traffic delays meant vital equipment – needed to make a stage-level seating area – failed to turn up at the venue.
Fans – some of whom had paid up to £1,000 for VIP front row seats – had to decide if they wanted to jostle for space or admit defeat, head home without seeing the Flying Without Wings hitmakers and apply for a full refund.
One furious fan had travelled all the way from Aberdeen especially for the gig.
She told the Mirror that she was at the show with her disabled mother and claims staff refused to give her mum a wheelchair to sit in.
Read more: Fans brand Helen Flanagan’s body ‘unreal’
She said: “I asked for a wheelchair for my disabled mother and was told she can either deal with it and stand or go home and come back to the Hydro tomorrow for a refund, so I’ve got to drive all way back to Glasgow for a refund.”
Another fan was only told about the seating issues when she was having her ticket scanned to enter the arena.
She explained to staff that members of her party had disabilities which meant they couldn’t stand for long periods of time.
She revealed: “We were told to either stand or leave and try for a refund but it would not be guaranteed. There didn’t seem to be any organisation or concern for the interest for ticket holders.”
Read more: ‘Queen of pop’ Cheryl is back with a ‘new look’
Taking to the stage, the band’s Nicky Byrne apologised to fans.
He said: “The options were, at 7 o’clock tonight, no show or give them the best show that we could give them, which would mean standing on the floor for you guys.”
He continued: “Rather than send you all home and postpone for another night we thought we’d just go out and give them a great show. We hope you don’t mind.”
A spokesperson for the venue also apologised “for any inconvenience”.
The news comes after Ent Daily reported that band member Mark Feehily is set to welcome his first child with fiancé Cailean O’Neill later this year.
Were you at the Glasgow show? Did you get a refund or enjoy the concert? Head over to our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know!