A HOSPITAL porter was “devastated” last night after he was sacked following a row with a Muslim doctor over a crucifix. Joseph Protano, a devout Roman Catholic, was a regular visitor to a prayer room open to all faiths at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
But Mr Protono, 54, became increasingly angry to find that a crucifix and a statue of the Virgin Mary were regularly being left covered up.
On one visit he discovered three Muslims – two patients and a consultant – inside the prayer room with the two icons masked by a cloth. A picture of the Virgin Mary had also been placed face down.
Mr Protano is alleged to have uncovered the symbols and stood the picture back up before leaving the room. But minutes later there was a “confrontation” in the corridor after the group followed him out.
The Muslims accused Mr Protano of using racist language and assault, but he strongly denies the charges against him and claims they verbally abused him.
Mr Protano, from Salford, was suspended four days after the incident in December and has now been fired.
Yesterday he said he was unable to comment because he planned to appeal, but friends admitted he was “totally shocked and devastated”.
Police released him after four hours of questioning following the assault complaint and passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if he should be charged.
A senior detective told the Daily Express: “I do not believe there should be any action over this, but the decision does not rest with me.”
Colleagues said that Mr Protano joined the hospital two years ago because he wanted to help sick children. One friend revealed: “He got fed up because he kept going in to find that Muslims had covered up the statues while saying their prayers, but then left without uncovering them. It was disrespectful.
“Maybe he should not have done what he did while the group was inside the prayer room, but do you deserve the sack? Would this have happened if it had been the other way round?”
Another friend added: “He was devastated by the decision. He thinks he has been treated terribly.
“He loves his job and does not do it for the money. He vehemently denies using racist language or assaulting anyone. He is very much a Christian.” Yesterday former colleague Cliff Hubert said: “He is one of the nicest guys you could meet. He loved his job and felt he was doing his bit to help sick kids. What a sad world we live in.”
Mr Protano was sacked by Medirest, which supplies staff to the hospital in Pendlebury. A spokesman said: “We can confirm a robust disciplinary process has taken place involving a porter at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. However, it is company policy not to comment on individual cases.”
The case is the latest in a string of controversies involving Christian symbols. British Airways caused fury by suspending check-in worker Nadia Eweida, 56, for openly wearing a small cross at work. Bosses allowed other staff members to wear faith symbols including a turban, hijab and Hindu wrist bracelets.
But they backed down following the outcry and allowed her to return to work. Staff can now wear the cross providing they seek permission.
Last year Croydon Council came under fire after it banned pupils from wearing crosses in class while allowing the jewellery of other faiths.