Youth worker sacked for giving injured teenager a tissue

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 09:44 · Archive

A youth worker was dismissed after giving an injured teenager a wet tissue to wipe blood from his face.

Damien Burke, 45, was dismissed from his position of 13 years at the Harrow Club's Old Oak branch in East Acton in 2024 for breaching health and safety rules. The dismissal stemmed from a fight between two youths in July 2023. After one teenager returned to the club visibly bleeding and having lost a tooth following a punch to the face, Mr Burke gave him a wet tissue to wipe the dried blood and helped him search for the tooth outside.

The club's bosses sacked him for gross misconduct, claiming he had 'placed young children under his care at risk' by applying first aid without training, failing to report the incident to a trained first aider, and failing to give a full account in his initial statement. Mr Burke, who lived near the club and coached a trophy-winning youth football team, was described as 'genuinely committed' but was deemed to have breached safeguarding protocols.

Mr Burke challenged the dismissal before an Employment Tribunal, which rejected his claim. He then took his case to the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London, where, representing himself, he insisted that giving a tissue to an injured child was a 'normal thing' for someone to do. However, a judge said the act could be regarded as first aid, and his appeal was rejected.

How it is being reported

• Worker sacked from historic Harrow youth club for giving teenager 'wet tissue' to wipe blood from his face after fightDamien Burke, 45, was dismissed from his position at a branch of the Harrow Club in 2024. He was accused of breaching health and safety rules, which saw him sacked for gross misconduct.Daily Mail · 13 Oct, 09:33
• Youth worker sacked after giving injured child tissue in health and safety breachDamien Burke was ‘indignant’ after being accused of breaching health and safety rulesThe Independent · 13 Oct, 08:40

In this story: Damien Burke · Harrow Club · East Acton · Old Oak

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