Porter in row over crucifix

December 13, 2007

| Submit Comments | Comments (15) | Previous | Next

A HOSPITAL porter has been suspended after a row over a crucifix being covered up in a prayer room.

The male porter had allegedly gone to use the room, which is available to visitors and staff of all faiths, at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury, Salford.

When he entered the room the crucifix, which was on a table, had been covered with a cloth as several Muslims were using the room.

A source said: "The porter apparently asked them to remove the cloth when they had finished as he and others wanted to use the room later.

"There was then some kind of incident and as a result the porter was suspended. It is the talk of the hospital and many staff are astounded that the porter has been sent home, and feel he has been unfairly treated.

"It has been claimed that he was verbally abused by those in the prayer room."

Complaint

A spokeswoman for the Central Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pendlebury, said: "We have received a complaint, following an incident which occurred last week, involving one of the porters who works at the hospital. The porter has been suspended and we are currently looking into what has taken place. Until we are in receipt of the full facts we cannot provide any further detail at this time."

The porter is employed by Medirest, which supplies porters, catering staff, cleaners and grounds maintenance staff to the hospital. The company works with more than 130 NHS trusts throughout the country, plus private hospitals and residential care homes. It is part of the Compass Group which has operations in 90 countries.

Compass spokeswoman Sara Matchett said `it would be wrong' to comment as an inquiry was on-going. The porter was sent home within hours of the alleged incident and is suspended on full pay.

Another source said: "Some staff believe the porter is the victim in this situation, but because an official complaint has been made the management have had no option but to suspend him."

In October, a Manchester airport boss was suspended after he hung an image of Jesus on a staffroom wall. Car parks supervisor Gareth Langmead, who is Catholic, was sent home after a Muslim colleague complained.

He was suspended for three days while airport chiefs investigated the complaint then reinstated without a blemish on his record.

Do you know how this porter is? Email the newsdesk or call 0161 211 2323.

| Submit Comments | Comments (15) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All

cliff hubert (13/12/2007 at 11:50)

it was 4days later he was suspended not hours

gillykins, urmston (13/12/2007 at 12:26)

So why was the crucifix covered up in the first place? if the room is open to all faiths, then all faiths could have what they wanted in there. Just because you dont believe in something does not give one the right to cover it up. What next? tarpaulins over churches because they offend people? The sooner ALL people realise they are living in a Church of England/Christian/Catholic country the better. Give the Porter back his job and make it known that pettiness like this will not be tolerated. Its stories like this that fuel trouble between religions - would it not be better for the world for everyone to get on? Give and take - its good advice!

better off red (13/12/2007 at 14:36)

we don't actually know the facts here, and only have the MEN's take on things which isn't exactly always spot on.

let's see what comes out in the wash.

The Bobelesque (13/12/2007 at 14:44)

Remove all prayer rooms from all public places. Religion is a curse, invented by men to dominate other men.

The sooner we have a single party, atheist state - the better!

Pescado (13/12/2007 at 15:39)

The Bob
would that single party not dominate?

Mr Angry, Bury (13/12/2007 at 16:50)

Bob,

Nothing wrong with a dictatorship providing the dictator is me!!

Bill, Kiriat Motzkin (13/12/2007 at 18:16)

Go to non-Christian countries. They have prayer rooms in public places too. But they are called Mosque or Synagogue. Anglos should stop bending over backwards and walking on eggshells.

PW, Manchester (13/12/2007 at 19:06)

How do these organisations find the time to pursue their aims of fulfilling their function?

john urmston (13/12/2007 at 22:51)

i witnessed the altercation, with the porter, there is no mention of the other disrespectful actions that took place either, sheets put over statues etc, to be left there... the altercation was one porter and a group of asian men, threatening towards him, as he did his job for god sake!

The Bobelesque (14/12/2007 at 09:23)

Pescado: Yes, but then we would all be under the same jack boot - for the greater good.

Mr Angry: I can see you now with your sky blue silk jodpurs and your bejewelled field marshalls batton a la Goering. You'd look magnificent!

Timberman, MANCHESTER (14/12/2007 at 09:45)

Lets not upset the 'minority'.

jomov, Manchester (14/12/2007 at 10:55)

People should respect all by keeping their 'beliefs' to themselves. Maybe then we wouldn't have so much hatred in the world!

Tonya786, Saddleworth (14/12/2007 at 14:07)

as a prayer room for all faiths there should be NO signs of individual faiths that way no offence can be caused to anyone... watch the droves of replies over this small incident why ?? because the word MUSLIM has been used. We are all Gods children and pray in our own way he hears all our prayers or by saying "he" will i offend feminists as God may be a she. take all religious signs out of multi faith rooms then there will be no complaints. Mosques,synagogues,temples are full every day and the christian world cant fill a church once a week and are in rapid decline, windows being smashed and church yards used by feral youths high on drugs ..why? intollerance and hatred of others beliefs and surprise surprise Jesus was a Jew ! and Jesus and the bible are part of the Koran...the problem is and will always be that the muslims have brown skin and dont go down to your local pubs or hang around in gangs drinking on friday night or robbing old ladies or inject poison they are busy working and being with there families and take faith seriously...wake up Manchester

tom tom, Manchester (15/12/2007 at 03:42)

Well said Tonya.. I agree with you...

mike tipler, knutsford (15/12/2007 at 22:32)

Tonya thats a rather racist generalisation. I do not have brown skin, i do not frequent the pub, or drink outdoors with my mates, i don't mug old ladies or partake in any kind of drug poison. Obviously my parentage is responsible for my being discriminated against.

()

Report

News