Former Royal Marine stopped at Heathrow over tattoo

Paul Fairclough with his tattoo

A former Royal Marine from Merseyside was ordered to cover up the military insignia which he wears with pride as he passed through airport security.

Ex-army medic Paul Fairclough was stunned and angry after being informed that his tattoo of the Marines famous dagger badge was "offensive", and must be hidden from public view.

Iraq War hero Paul was travelling through London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 when he was challenged by a female operator in the security area.

Paul, 29, from Wirral, joined the army at 19 and served in Iraq and Kosovo with the crack 539 Assault Squadron.

He now works as a safety officer on oil rigs and was returning from Canada when the incident happened.

Having arrived from Toronto he was transferring to a Manchester flight when he was stopped before he passed through a security arch as he boarded the domestic flight.

After he put a bag on on an X-ray machine conveyor he was told to take his jacket off - revealing the 12-inch tattoo of the Royal Marines dagger.

Paul tells how a woman official then told him: "That tattoo is offensive. You will have to cover it up."

Father-of-one Paul said: "I tried to explain that she was mistaken and that it was the insignia of my old regiment, the Royal Marines.

"She said she knew exactly what it was but that it made no difference. They had a policy that tattoos showing offensive weapons of any kind must not be on show.

"I was annoyed and told her that there was no way I was covering it up and I walked on as she glared at me.

"I half-expected to feel a tap on my shoulder but I just walked through the arch and went on my way."

Paul, who lives with his wife Nicky and their 15-month-old son Matthew, in Tranmere, Wirral, explained how he tackled a supervisor after passing through security.

Paul added: "I demanded to see a supervisor to ask for an explanation.

"He said they had a policy that offensive tattoos connected with gangs and weapons must be covered-up in the airport.

"But he said there was no ban on military insignia tattoos and tried to explain it away by saying that the operator concerned must have made a mistake.

"When I said that she had insisted that she knew exactly that it was a Royal Marines' badge he tried to say she must not have been trained properly.

"He didn't apologise and I was left feeling insulted, angry and incensed.

"I served my country and lost mates who were blown-up in Iraq.

"It's annouing tjat some jumped-up petty official could tell me that that a military tattoo was banned because it might upset other travellers.

"I am proud of my service with the Royal Marines and this left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I just hope they get pulled-up about it so that it doesn't happen to anyone else."

A spokesman for British Airports Authority at Heathrow said: "This should not have happened. We have no a policy against tattoos.

"We do sometimes ask passengers to cover-up things like slogans that would be offensive to other travellers, but that is clearly not case on this occasion.

"BAA would like to offer our sincere apologies to the passenger concerned."

Comments about Former Royal Marine stopped at Heathrow over tattoo