Jackie McDonald
TRADE unionist Jim Wright kept his trousers on when he attended a Union flag protest with UDA chief Jackie McDonald at Belfast City Hall.
The senior shop steward at Co. Antrim busmakers Wrightbus is at the centre of lewd allegations that he dropped his trousers in front of a company manager before making an inappropriate comment.
He is currently suspended on full pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Grey-haired Wright is alleged to have pulled the top of his trousers down as if to bare his backside and said "kiss my a**e, why do you not s***t me while you're at it."
Wright has been absent from his job in the quality department of the multimillion pound award winning company for the past three weeks, following the confrontation with his line manager. He took time out during the controversy surrounding the flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Hall to take part in a mass demonstration.
Confirmed
He stood shoulder to shoulder with UDA chief Jackie McDonald in front of police lines as hundreds of loyalist protesters blockaded the city centre.
Wrightbus refused to comment when the Sunday World first approached them about Wright's suspension, but sources within the firm have confirmed an investigation is under way over a series of allegations.
As exclusively revealed last week the incident is said to have been witnessed by another member of staff but who has since withdrawn his statement amid suspicions that he came under pressure to drop his account of what happened.
The Sunday World also understands that staff at the company are unhappy that trade union representatives from UNITE have launched a petition calling for him to be reinstated and criticising the company for suspending him pending the completion of the investigation.
Sources have told us, workers refused to sign the paper and were happy to place their faith in the company inquiry.
Wrightbus is seen as a standard bearer for Northern Ireland industry securing a series of ground breaking multi-million pound deals from across the world for their vehicles.