WIRRAL SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER GUILTY OF THREATENING BEHAVIOUR AND USING ABUSIVE LANGUAGE TOWARDS PUPIL
A former staff member at the Life Wirral school on Victoria Road in New Brighton, Wirral, Daniel McNulty-Doyle, aged 22, was found guilty of using threatening and abusive language likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress following a trial.He was ordered to pay a £250 fine,£300 in costs, a £100 victim surcharge, and £50 compensation to the victim.
McNulty-Doyle, who first volunteered at the school and later became a full-time staff member, claimed he saw his role more as that of a 'big brother' rather than a teacher.
During the trial, footage provided by BBC Panorama was shown, in which McNulty-Doyle acknowledged he spoke to a pupil using a derogatory term derived from association with birth defects caused by the drug thalidomide.
He stated he did not know the term's offensive meaning at first, believing it simply meant 'stupid or divvy,' but realized its true offensive nature after searching it online.
The court also showed footage of McNulty-Doyle attempting to grab a laptop from the victim who was researching the term, indicating he knew it was abusive.
The judge remarked that his actions suggested he was aware of the word's offensive connotations and that he had acted in a role for which he was unqualified, underscoring his unsuitability for such a position.
