Locals to rally together to protest in support of Walsall Morrisons manager sacked for tackling shoplifter

A protest has been organised to rally behind a Morrisons store manager who was controversially sacked after tackling a shoplifter.

Don’t miss any of the latest news and breaking stories from the West Midlands. Get the latest headlines wherever you are with our free daily newsletter sent directly to your inbox

Sean Egan, aged 46, who had worked in the Aldridge Morrisons store, in Walsall, for 29 years, said he was sacked after tackling a repeated shoplifter, who became aggressive while being escorted from the supermarket.

Mr Egan, from Lanesfield in Wolverhampton, said the incident happened in December last year and was subsequently investigated by Morrisons.

The former store manager was involved in a disciplinary hearing.

He told the BBC that during this hearing he had been told he would be dismissed on the grounds of not following the company's deter-and-not-detain policy.

Subsequently, local customers of the Morrisons store in Walsall proposed to hold a peaceful protest in support of Mr Egan.

The protest will take place today starting at 9am to 12pm in Aldridge in the precinct with Mr Egan in attendance.

Mr Egan will be running from the Bilston Morrisons to the Aldridge Morrisons store as he is currently raising funds for the Birmingham Half Marathon.

Mr Egan is running the half marathon in May and is raising money for local children and families who use Acorns Children's Hospice.

A protest banner called on the supermarket to: "Do the right thing - reinstate Sean Egan."

It added Mr Egan was a "charitable man" who has "supported the community".

An ex-Morrisons customer, who organised the protest, said: “Sean did so much for his customers and the community and continuously raised tens of thousands of pounds for different charities.

“It would be great for the community to come together and support Sean at his time in need.”

Morrisons told the BBC that it could not comment on individual cases, but the health and safety of all colleagues and customers was of paramount importance.

A spokesperson for Morrisons previously said: "We are continuing to take wide-ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.

"The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.

"These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk.”