Videos of a construction worker destroying the entrance to a brand new Travelodge hotel went viral this week, leading many to ask why.
Reports initially suggested the man had not been paid for the job and was therefore seeking revenge, although word soon changed with people saying he had actually been paid and had simply failed to check his bank account.
So which version of the story was true? With different reports circulating each day, and with them more rumours about what caused the incident. The family of John Manley, the man behind the digger, have decided to speak out to put his side of the story across.
Footage of the incident shows John plough into the newly built Travelodge on Edge Lane, Liverpool, just before 3pm on Monday (January 21).
Mounting the steps in front of the hotel, located at the Liverpool Innovation Park, the arm of the digger crashes into the glass and tears through the entrance.
As dozens of colleagues watch on, the digger goes through the front door, crashing into walls as well as the hotel’s front desk once inside.
Monday madness just finished tiling that fucker
Posted by Bryan Mappin on Monday, 21 January 2019
But why? And how did things come to this? UNILAD spoke with John’s cousin, Jason Pellegrini, 43, who expressed how important it is for people to know his side of the story.
He said:
It’s a fact he was not paid. He was left penniless over the weekend with no gas or electricity, contrary to reports that he didn’t. Check his bank account, he does not have one payment going in.
John attempted all weekend to contact his boss but had no joy, he left texts and voicemails – no response. John then called the business address to be told that his boss no longer lived there and the phone was slammed down on him.
Mr Manley’s rampage was therefore triggered by the alleged failure of sub-contracting firm MF Constructions to pay the construction worker his £600 wages on time, causing him distress and anger.
In support of this, John can be heard shouting in the video and repeatedly mentions his unpaid wages, saying: ‘£600 fucking quid, all you had to do was pay me my fucking £600 quid, £600 fucking quid’.
Jason continued:
A meeting was arranged with Triton, who contracted John’s firm. John’s boss didn’t show up and he and a number of colleagues were left unpaid and John had to spend the weekend with no gas or electricity. He had nothing.
UNILAD reached out to MF Constructions for comment, but did not get a response. However, Triton Construction – the main contractor for the site – provided a statement regarding the claims.
The company said:
It is our understanding that one of the labourers, working for MF Construction (who were employed as the groundwork’s sub-contractor for the project) had been waiting for his Manager to arrive with his wages, which he told other workers on site were overdue.
It is alleged that the labourer couldn’t track down the owner of MF Construction and he became increasingly frustrated.
At approximately 3.00pm, the labourer took it upon himself to drive a small mini excavator through the front entrance screen of the hotel and subsequently causing damage to finishes within the reception area. The labourer then ran from the scene and to our knowledge is being pursued by the Police.
Fortunately, there were no injuries to Staff Members or other operatives, sub-contractors on site. Additionally, there is no structural damage, so repairs can be undertaken relatively quickly.
Jason stressed that his cousin has not and never was paid and that he’s currently under ‘a significant amount of stress’ after everything that’s happened.
He explained that John was ‘trapped in the system’ and could not afford a place of his own, so the alleged lack of payment caused him to react in an extreme way.
The 43-year-old said:
He was kind of trapped in the system in that he was of no fixed abode. He was staying with a relative many a time on the couch, so when out of work he had no money and could not even claim an emergency grant as he was not on benefits.
When faced with the question which many are asking – why would John not get a place of his own? – Jason says that this is a ‘valid point’ but that it just wasn’t possible for his cousin.
Jason explained:
Firstly, the council flat list has a significant waiting list. When he got paid, he did not know where his next work was coming from so he could not afford a deposit for a private flat.
When out of work, he could not claim housing benefit because he had no fixed abode. A vicious circle and a shame because this is a guy who works ten hour days in a physically demanding job.
The 43-year-old expressed that other construction workers in John’s situation have felt like doing something similar, but have not gone through with it.
Jason said:
Having spoken to many other people over the incident, they have all said the same. They have fantasised about doing something similar, however have not gone through with it. There are many honest workers like John out there.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has raised more than £6,500 to help with John’s ‘legal fees’ and ‘expenses’.
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