Firefighter who made a sick ‘joke’ about Down’s Syndrome children apologises after outrage from colleague
Clives was suspended while his bosses in Cumbria investigate the incident
A FIREFIGHTER apologised yesterday over a sick “joke” about Down’s syndrome children.
Peter Clives, 49, made the comment on Facebook when a workmate urged the wearing of odd socks for a charity day.
Mr Clives responded: “I’ll go one step further and lick the windows on my car clean.”
He was suspended while a bosses in Cumbria investigated.
Mr Clives admitted: “It was totally unacceptable.”
Colleague Mike Wilkinson, whose son has Down’s, said: “I know there was no malice. It was just an ill-conceived attempt at humour.”
Mr Clives made the post on Facebook to his workmate who urged fellow firefighters to wear odd socks to support World Down Syndrome Day.
After a number of complaints John McVay, assistant chief fire officer, said an investigation had been launched into the matter.
Mr Wilkinson, whose son Enzo-Ty, aged 11, has Down's Syndrome, was outraged by the comment.
Mr Clives later said that he apologised for any offence caused, and that he had “a downs” in his family.
The firefighter said his humour was “sometimes a little close to the bone” and he had posted his comment in the “wrong forum”.
Mr Wilkinson's wife Kerry posted: "You should have known better and you have offended a lot of people who love and adore Enzo for all that he is.”
Mr McVay said: "These comments are completely unacceptable and do not reflect the values of Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service.
"We consider this a disciplinary matter and are conducting an investigation. I would like to sincerely apologise on behalf of the service for the offence and distress these comments have caused and will be contacting the family directly in this regard.”
Mr Clives who has served in the Royal Navy, works from Ulverston Fire Station but has worked in Barrow and lives in Kendal.
The Fire Brigades Union's secretary for Cumbria, Eddie Burrows, was also shocked by the firefighter's comment.
"We are very committed to equality and we are very surprised if any firefighter made any comment like that,"; Mr Burrows said.
"If someone made a complaint to the union about it we would do an investigation and consider banning him from the union.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"We are representatives of the fire service and we should be held to account and our standards should be as high as possible."
A spokeswoman for the Down's Syndrome Association said: "People with Down’s syndrome are all unique individuals and should be acknowledged as a person first and foremost. Down’s syndrome is only a part of the person; they should never be referred to as “a Down’s” or “a Down’s person”.
"Insulting language and outdated attitudes and stereotypes about people with disabilities have no place in our society."
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email [email protected].