Primary school welfare assistant suspended over alleged anti-Muslim Facebook posts

Categories: Latest News
Thursday September 01 2016
The news site, Southport Visitor, reports that a primary school worker who appeared to joke about a woman wearing a burqa concealing suicide bomber vests has been suspended pending an investigation.
Liz Leadbetter, a welfare assistant at Westhead Lathom St James’ C of E allegedly posted an image onto a Facebook page showing three women dressed in burqas in a town centre with the caption: “Derek saw these and did one. By God did we laugh.”
Another comment added under the post: “He wasn’t staying around to get blown up, he said one had at least three vests on under that lot.”
A further comment read: “No way, these shouldn’t be allowed here.”
The Facebook page was later removed.
The posts were revealed last month after a resident of Westhead noticed the posts and notified the Liverpool Echo newspaper. The parent who asked not to be named, told the Echo “I am disgusted that the staff are publicly racist on a public post. I don’t know this staff member. I am looking to send my daughter to another school instead next year now due to this (which will mean extra travel). I just want the best for my daughter.”
The Southport Visitor reports that a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said Ms Leadbetter had been suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry.