An East Belfast business has defended a controversial social media post about people who use mobility scooters saying that it was not aimed at the disabled or those who genuinely need them.
Belfast Breakfast Baps on Woodstock Road made a post on social media on Saturday, March 15, which said that certain people should not be using mobility scooters if they have weight issues and that people who are not disabled were using them.
It said: "If you’re in one of these because you’re morbidly obese please know you are not disabled you’re fat and probably not very useful. It most definitely is your fault. Thyroid issues are workable and you are taking away resources from those who actually deserve not. How about park the mobility scooter and walk fatty and maybe even eventually run."
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The post sparked outrage on social media, with the business being accused of not understanding people with disabilities and that some people can develop weight problems specifically because of the disabilities that they may have.
Belfast Live was contacted by a number of people who felt the comments were "disgusting" and not appropriate for a business to be making.
Commenting on the post, one person said: "Seems you're not aware but there are disabled folks who've gained weight due to their disability, not laziness and the likes, but from pain and the inability to keep on top of exercise because of it. Some require those scooters.
"Some don't even bother with those scooters and hide away in home instead of living their lives because of comments like the entirety of your sh*t post. You're doing more harm to people than the good you think you are."
Another said: "Says the business who's cooking high fat foods to contribute to people being overweight , your [sic] part of the problem, not the solution."
Mark Young of Belfast Breakfast Baps said the post was not aimed at disabled people and was instead trying to highlight how resources can be taken away from them. He said the business regularly contributes to local charities and food banks and that those in the area know that they are a business with a heart.
He added: "It’s not aimed at the disabled as the post clearly states it’s aimed at the fat people who use them and take away vital resources. When unlike disabled folk who have a genuine need for them they could walk and lose weight.
"Anyway it is what it is and people have and can take whatever they want from it but our charitable side of the business, and the lengths we go to to support the local food bank, offering free school breakfast in January and free Christmas dinners on Christmas Day should be all the evidence required for people to know we are a business with a heart."
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