Gran's humiliation after Manchester Airport staff 'tell her to drop her trousers and expose stoma bag'

A grandmother and cancer survivor was left 'humiliated' and 'in tears' after she says security staff at Manchester Airport forced her to drop her trousers and expose her stoma bag.

Colette McAreavey, from Belfast, was travelling back to her hometown on Friday (July 14) after visiting her daughter and two grandchildren in Manchester when she says she was subjected to the 'intimidating' treatment. The 75-year-old was given the stoma after suffering with bladder cancer for eight years, and said she 'couldn't believe' the way she was treated.

She claims staff at the airport put her through an x-ray machine and patted her down before leading her to a private room where she was told to patrtially undress and rub the stoma. When she expressed her upset, Colette claims staff told her 'it is what it is'. Manchester Airport insisted correct procedures were followed but said they would 'welcome feedback' from Colette.

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"I went through the x-ray machine and then was told to go over to a woman who would pat me down, which was fine," Colette told the Manchester Evening News. "I told her I have a stoma and you can probably feel it. She then told me to follow her."

The 75-year-old said she asked where she was being taken multiple times but says she was simply told staff needed to search her due to her stoma. Colette, who has had the stoma since December 2021 after multiple operations for bladder cancer, said she still finds the bag 'very difficult'.

"Although I have had the stoma for a couple of years, I know that I haven't accepted it 100 per cent," she added.

She told the M.E.N she was led to a private room where two other security staff