Paramedic ‘made derogatory comments about gays’
A paramedic is facing a misconduct hearing after being accused of making derogatory comments about gays, Muslims, black people and women.
Karl Touhey, 40, who worked for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, appeared yesterday (Tuesday) before the Health Professions Council in London.
According to former colleague Edward Wiltshire, Touhey allegedly said in December 2006: “Christmas is cancelled because it’s politically incorrect and is being replaced by lesbian single-mother Muslim day.”
Wiltshire also claimed Touhey had repeatedly used the word “nigger” and made derogatory comments about women he thought unattractive.
Another former colleague, Stuart Henderson, claimed Touhey said: “We should get the Klu-Klux-Klan in power as they would sort out the problem with immigrants. They’ve done a good job in the USA.”
Touhey, who has since left to work at a private company, admitted calling Big Brother contestant Darnell Swallow an “albino nigger” but denied being homophobic, saying he had gay members of his family.
He will be struck off if the hearing finds his fitness to practise is impaired.
The hearing continues.
