Safari Park boss "sacked after slurs against Lady Derby"

Jan 29 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

OBSCENE and offensive slurs about the Countess of Derby and her son cost a Knowsley Safari Park manager his £30,000-a-year job, an employment tribunal was told yesterday.

Former operations manager Sean Lawler allegedly made the remarks about the family of the 19th Earl of Derby, Edward Stanley, who owns the Knowsley estate.

Four witnesses claim that Mr Lawler insulted Lady Derby and her eldest son, Edward, 11, at a meeting with park staff in February, 2007.

Mr Lawler, 51, categorically denies the allegations, claiming the evidence against him was disingenuous. He said park employees sometimes used “industrial language”.

Cross-examining Mr Lawler, counsel for Lord Derby, Jonathan Bramley, asked the former amusement park chief to imagine he was the owner of a small, family-run company.

Mr Bramley said in the scenario, Mr Lawler should imagine he had heard reports one of his senior managers had cast aspersions against his wife.

Mr Bramley said: “He had used words that suggested that your wife was frustrated.

“That she needed a good f––––––.

“That’s offensive and obscene language – it grossly attacks your manhood and is grossly insulting and offensive about your wife as well.”

Mr Bramley then asked Mr Lawler to imagine statements had been made about his son.

“He said about one of your children – and the manager is responsible for a children’s amusement attraction – ‘I would like to punch the little –––– in the face’.

“That’s more than industrial language – it’s threatening, disrespectful.

“ That sort of language, used when addressing his staff, would you find him a suitable manager?”

Mr Lawler replied simply: “No”.

In a statement to the tribunal, Mr Lawler, who had worked at the park since January, 2003, said: “I have no reason to use such words against Lady Derby or her son. I categorically deny using such language.”

The slur is alleged to have been made in February, 2007, after Lady Derby spoke to Mr Lawler in his office and complained guests she had brought to the park had been unable to use some of the attractions.

The following day, Mr Lawler had a meeting with four senior employees in the park where he relayed Lady Derby’s concerns.

The four employees – David Molyneux, Paul Fitzhenry, Matthew Callaghan and Jed Byatt – made statements claiming Mr Lawler had insulted Lady Derby and her son.

Their stories only came to light after a meeting in April when a further member of staff – Claire Stansfield – was leaving her job at Knowsley.

The allegations were reported to park operations director Edward Perry.

Mr Perry took statements from the four witnesses on June 4, almost four months after the remarks are alleged to have been made.

Mr Lawler told the inquiry: “If they had felt so strongly, why then did they wait 112 days? I felt this was totally inconsistent and totally disingenuous.”

He was dismissed from his £30,000-a-year post at the safari park for gross misconduct in June, 2007.

Tribunal chair David Hewitt will meet the parties in chambers tomorrow, and will produce a written report of his findings within four weeks.

benschofield@dailypost.co.uk