A former employee of a Perth McDonald’s claims that he was fired from his job after taking leave to recover from the shock of being robbed at gunpoint.
Michael Dakin was allegedly robbed by Shawn Newton – Perth’s ‘most wanted man’ at the time – who was being hunted by police in connected with the death of Scarborough woman Rebecca Gascoigne.
In July, Ms Gascoigne’s body was found in a car boot off on the Cedric Freeway in Silverton, and police were seeking Newton over allegations that he was connected to the death.
Michael Dakin was working the night shift at a Perth McDonald’s when a man pulled out a gun
Shawn Newton, once Perth’s ‘most wanted man’, demanded money from Mr Dakin at gunpoint
On July 23, the man who police allege was Newton entered the store with a black handgun and demanded cash.
As the eldest in the store, the 26-year-old Mr Dakin took charge as a group of teenagers hid in the back, according to Perth Now.
‘He pointed a gun at me, at my stomach,’ Mr Dakin said. ‘He came in the store, asked me to … well, yelled “give me all your money” [and] I just wanted it to be all over.’
And then just weeks after the hold up, Mr Dakin was sacked – but McDonald’s claims that letting him go was unrelated to the violent incident.
On July 23, the man who police allege was Newton entered McDonalds with a black handgun
Shawn Newton (pictured) was wanted by police after the body of Ms Gascoigne was found
Newton was taken into custody two days after the McDonald’s hold up and Mr Dakin went to a doctor to seek help for his recurring nightmares.
He described the whole ordeal as ‘traumatic’, and it was recommended that he take six weeks off work.
‘[I was] not sleeping, stress and I was waking up three or four times a night,’ he said.
Shawn Newton was taken into custody two days after holding up the Perth McDonald’s store
McDonald’s released statement saying letting Dakin go ‘was in no way related to the robbery’
But just weeks later, Dakin – who had been employed by McDonald’s for a decade – was let go.
‘Mr Dakin was terminated for serious misconduct which endangered other employees in our restaurant,’ a McDonald’s spokesperson said.
‘This action was in no way related to the robbery or any subsequent workers compensation claim.’
McDonald’s maintain that firing Mr Dakin had nothing to do with his ‘trauma’ after the holdup
McDonald’s said that their priority following an incident such as the one involving Newton is to ‘ensure the safety and well-being’ of the crew and managers, including supporting them in their recovery and return to work.
‘Our people are encouraged to take time off should they require and are provided access to free and confidential counselling,’ the McDonald’s statement said.
Mr Dakin and his lawyer have since launched legal action with the Fair Work Commission.