"PC" claims another victim

[Gob]

A medical technician killed himself after being suspended from work after someone complained that he made a politically-incorrect joke about a black friend.

Roy Amor, 61, who was devastated at the prospect of losing his job making prosthetics, shot himself in the head outside his house.

He was facing a disciplinary investigation after suggesting to the black colleague that he ‘better hide’ when they noticed immigration officers outside their clinic.

It is understood that the man was a close friend of Mr Amor and was not offended. However, it was overheard by someone else who lodged a formal complaint.

Five days after his suspension, Mr Amor received an email about the incident from his employers, Opcare, a private company that provides prosthetic and orthotic services to the NHS.

A few hours later police found his body in the road outside his home near Bolton, Lancashire, after being alerted by a neighbour.

Sources told The Mail on Sunday that he left three notes, all of which mention Opcare, including one written outside his workplace at 5pm on the day before he died in which he describes his despair.

The black man, who is believed to have attended Mr Amor’s funeral and had known him for many years, is said to be ‘shattered’.

His distraught family believe that what he intended as a light-hearted remark became overblown.

Mr Amor, a classic car enthusiast, was married to his wife Ann, a former nurse, for 39 years. The couple have a grown-up son and daughter.

Last night, Mrs Amor, who was not at home at the time of her husband’s death, was too upset to comment. Friends said Mr Amor was a highly regarded and experienced prosthetics technician.

One said: ‘Roy made a joke along the lines that his friend had better hide in case the officers found him. It was nothing more than a good-humoured joke but apparently someone overheard it and made an official complaint because they thought it was racist.

‘Roy was devastated when he was suspended and was worried he might lose his job.

‘His colleague has known both Roy and Ann for years and is a family friend. He went to Roy’s funeral and is as shattered by what happened as is everyone else.

‘He has told Ann that he didn’t make the complaint and despite requests from the family, the company has refused to discuss the details of it. The family is not even sure whether the investigation is still ongoing.’

The email from the company that Mr Amor received on the morning of his death was a request asking him to address the statement he had made about the incident.

Unable to open an attachment containing the details, Mr Amor emailed a reply saying he was too upset to deal with the matter immediately. He then shot himself in the afternoon.

Opcare has run the ‘disablement services centre’, which stands in the grounds of Withington Community Hospital, Manchester, for the past three years.

The centre had previously been run by other private companies. In all, Mr Amor had worked there for more than 30 years and ‘adored’ his job. He had not faced disciplinary proceedings before.

Last night, the female manager at the Manchester Opcare centre and a spokeswoman at the company’s Abingdon head office in Oxfordshire said they were unable to make any comment.

David Warlow, one of Opcare’s directors, was also approached by The Mail on Sunday. ‘I’m unable to comment on the matter,’ he said.

Opcare chief executive Michael O’Byrne admitted that Mr Amor had been suspended over the joke.

He added: ‘It’s an enormous tragedy and we are all in mourning. I knew Roy personally and he was an excellent technician.’

Asked if he had any regrets about suspending him, he replied: ‘I don’t want to comment further.’

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said details of Mr Amor’s death had been passed to the Bolton Coroner’s Office. A full inquest would take place in August.

‘There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death,’ the spokeswoman added.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0krF6Uuxb

[The Hen]

That is an horrific story.

The irony as well. A few misplaced words and look what happens.

I wish people would learn to fight the battles that need to be fought instead of jumping at shadows and trying to appear as someone who cares.

[Sean]

It shits me to tears when some holier-than-thou twat takes offence over an overheard remark without bothering to see if the 'victim' was even offended. Why do some people believe that they need to stick their fucking oar in like that?

[The Hen]

To show that they are down wid de bro's.

[Gob]

Makes my blood boil. I used to have a mate, Ben Odge ( a Kenyan chap) who attended my martial arts classes when I had a club in college at Plymouth. Someone made a complaint following a demo I was doing that I quipped; "I use Ben for the striking demo's as the bruises don't show up." The sports facility admin called me in, I did not deny that I used it. Ben saw the admin; "Gob uses that line frequently, as it's one I gave him!" Taken no further.

[Sean]

It's simple: If the remark is addressed to you or if you can see that the person it is made to is intimidated/upset/etc then by all means step in!

Otherwise mind you own fucking business!

It's not rocket surgery...

[Crackpot]

nice mixed metaphor.

[@meric@nwom@n]

Here we have what is called "third party" or something near that. If someone overhears the remark and is offended you are in trouble. Case in point, a male aide was looking at a female aide. Just looking, not saying anything. The ward secretary did not like how he was looking at the female and reported it. He was counseled. Utter bullshit? I would say so, but then it's a world gone mad.

[Miles]

female aide. Just looking, not saying anything. The ward secretary did not like how he was looking at the female and reported it. He was counseled. Utter bullshit? I would say so, but then it's a world gone mad.

Boy would I be in trouble. One of my favorited past times is people watching. I am talking about all people young and old alike. I can sit on a bench during the lunch rush on main street and just observe the people. Yeah I know I need to get a life.

[Gob]

Case in point, a male aide was looking at a female aide. Just looking, not saying anything. The ward secretary did not like how he was looking at the female and reported it. He was counseled.

Ah, counseling the universal panacea, one of my other fave bugbears.