Wates Group has fired a project manager after he was charged following “malicious communications” shared on social media after a man died during a Sheffield Wednesday game.
A post in X, formerly Twitter, from a user named @richard_crisp allegedly mocked the death of West Bromwich fan Mark Townsend, 57, who suffered a medical emergency at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough Stadium on 28 September.
The X post said: “Another one to add to the Leppings Lane tally. What are we at now, 98? When we get to 100 we’ll have a party. Up the Owls.”
It is alleged that the post refers to the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy where 97 people died during a Liverpool match. The Owls is a nickname for Sheffield Wednesday FC.
South Yorkshire Police said in a statement that Richard Crisp, 55, from Hillsborough, was charged on Monday in relation to the “communication/article of an indecent or offensive nature”.
On the same day, Wates published the following statement on X: “We can confirm that Richard Crisp is no longer employed by the Wates Group. The comments he made over the weekend are unacceptable and completely at odds with our values as a company.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the tragedy at the West Bromwich Albion game this weekend and to all those who lost loved ones at Hillsborough.”
Crisp has been released on police bail until his court appearance at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 14 October.
Insensitive, inconsiderate and unacceptable but most of all stupid. Bravo Wates. RIP and deepest sympathy to the friends and family of the deceased. WBA. JFT97. YNWA. The Owls.
I have worked for Wates Construction many times as a freelance site manager, its very sad to see Wates name attached to this. Wates Construction have the highest standards I have come across in my 51 years of being in construction and long may they continue .