World Cup refusal stuns family

A young man paralysed since birth was told he could not attend a World Cup cricket match because his wheelchair was not allowed into the grounds.

Butler residents Mike and Jackie Mulroy were stunned when a security guard tried to stop their "sports-mad" son Adam, 23, from entering a gate at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

"This security girl came after us and said 'that can't go in'," Mr Mulroy said.

The official told them wheelchairs were not permitted by the International Cricket Council, which controls the WACA Ground during World Cup matches.

They argued that Adam, who is a quadriplegic and cannot speak, had a ticket clearly marked for a wheelchair bay.

"We had to point out our son could not walk and was confined to the wheelchair," Mr Mulroy said. "Eventually common sense prevailed and we went in."

Another wheelchair user in a nearby bay told them he had also been turned away and had to go to a different gate to get inside.

Mr Mulroy said Adam had been distressed by the incident.

"He was upset, he lives for sport," he said. The long-time WACA members have tickets for more matches this week, but they are worried the same thing could happen again. "It just shouldn't be happening in this day and age," Mrs Mulroy said.

An ICC spokesman said organisers were investigating a complaint and were "deeply concerned" with the situation the customer faced.

Wheelchairs were permitted into all venues for the tournament and carers of those with disability were given a free ticket to attend.