A disabled man born with cerebral palsy has been cruelly mocked by a troll for doing his job.
Nigel Cleary, 27, works with regional auctions company Burns & Co and is proudly described as a key member of staff and the business’s front man.
But a foul comment during an auction live-stream – ‘What’s holding the sign?’ – has devastated Mr Cleary, his family and his employer.
Nigel Cleary (with sister Belinda) was born with cerebral palsy. The 27-year-old works for the auction company Burns & Co
Mr Cleary (left, on own) was working at an auction recently (right) when a cruel commenter singled him out and asked ‘what’s holding the sign’
The troll repeatedly posted this message – ‘what’s holding the sign’ – to Facebook
The message – posted twice in an apparently jokey aside to a friend – not only targeted a disabled person but comes as Nigel’s mother battles terminal cancer.
A Burns & Co spokesman singled out the comment on its Facebook page this week: ‘I was gutted this evening to read this.
‘When are we going to accept people as people…
‘With a heart of gold and a work ethic second to none Nigel is our hero.’
Mr Cleary said he was so upset by the post he nearly quit his job.
‘I was down, I was nearly going to quit and put all my stuff into Salvos,’ he said.
‘I was upset ’til this morning ’til about 10am.’
Scores of people have since condemned the comment online and Nigel has been buoyed by their support.
‘I thought – bugger him. He’s only one person,’ he said.
Mr Cleary’s sister Belinda said: ‘This isn’t a kid pointing at Nige in the street – it is a grown man who should have known better.
‘People just have to teach their kids acceptance or compassion or the heartache is just going to continue.
‘This… is a grown man who should have known better,’ Nigel’s sister Belinda (left) said
Mr Cleary (centre) has been buoyed by the support of people online – who rallied to his defence
Nigel is smart, funny, kind and resilient’, family said
‘Nigel is smart, funny, kind and resilient but sometimes it doesn’t matter how strong you are – and it can take one bully to break someone.
‘(Nigel) has had a tough enough time working out how to live in a world made for fully-abled people.
‘No one has any right to tell him he is broken.
‘I have held him crying too many times.
‘I’ll never forget one night when I hugged him on a park bench and he told me he always thought he might wake up one day and not have to be disabled. ‘
The man responsible for the foul remark later issued a public apology.
‘I am posting in regards to the inappropriate comment I made yesterday I understand it was disrespectful selfish and hurtful,’ he said.
‘I apologies (sic) for any pain and upset I have caused I take full responsibility for my actions.
‘In future I will not make inappropriate comments.’
Mr Cleary was unforgiving: ‘He was scared. Everybody was on my side. On the right side.’
He thanked his employer for the support and friendship.