Teacher Fired After Defending His Wife and Disabled Daughter From Kids on Facebook
He claims teens tried to take a bicycle from their front yard, then threatened to stab his wife.
A British elementary school teacher says he was fired after publishing a Facebook post defending his wife and disabled daughter from a group of teens who threatened them. Michael Flynn, 52, said he made the posts after the teens tried to take a bicycle from their front yard, then threatened to stab his wife. But because his school forbade teachers from posting on social media, he was fired. Read on to find out what happened.
1
Multiple Threats Lead to Facebook Post
On May 23, Flynn said a group of teens tried to take a bicycle from the front yard of his home in Gillingham, Kent. When his wife, Angela (a former police officer in the U.S.), asked them to leave, one of them threatened to stab her and return with people who would assault her and murder the family, the Telegraph reported.
Flynn said he was sleeping through a diabetic episode at the time and posted on Facebook to encourage the boys' parents to get in touch with him.
2
What the Post Said
"Four kids tried to steal a pushbike from my front garden. When challenged they were verbally abusive and threatening to my wife," his post read. "A chase ensued, one kid lost his shoes in the conflict. If this is your son, you may want to contact me before I contact the police. Twydall is a small place and I will find him sooner or later. So, if you want to sort this out calmly, I suggest the parents PM me or I will sort this out my way."
3
"I Am The Victim of a Crime, Yet I Am Being Punished"
The next day, the same group returned to Flynn's home with a large rock. He said they seemed ready to throw it at a window before they noticed Flynn and ran away. Flynn says he was fired the following day by Twydall Primary School over the Facebook post.
He has now taken ride-sharing work to support his wife and disabled stepdaughter. "I have stolen nothing and I've threatened no one. I am the victim of a crime, yet I am being punished," he said, according to the Telegraph.
4
A 22-Year Teaching Career Stalled
A teacher for 22 years, Flynn worries his firing means he may be unemployable in his chosen profession. "I loved teaching and this is certainly not the way I wanted to end my career," he told the Telegraph.
5
School's Perspective on the Matter
A school spokesman told the news outlet: "The well-being of our pupils is our priority, and we take our responsibilities to safeguard children extremely seriously. We cannot discuss individual cases but incidents brought to our attention are fully investigated and acted upon in line with our policies and procedures, which align with Department for Education guidance."
6
Teacher's Wife Says She Is "Petrified"
Flynn's wife, a former Louisiana police officer, stays at home to tend to her 20-year-old daughter, Alexis, who needs 24-hour care after being paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident four years ago. "I'm petrified," she told the Telegraph.
"Those kids said they were going to come back with people who were going to kill my family. If they had thrown that rock through the window, Alexis would not have even been able to raise her hands to stop it hitting her."
7
"Held Hostage" By "Delinquents"
The couple say their neighbors in the assisted-living community in which they live fear for their safety. "People are frightened to go out in their garden and lay down at night in their beds not knowing that everything they have worked for is safe," Flynn's wife said. "They are being held hostage by these delinquents." Police are investigating the incidents, the Telegraph reported.
