UEA Postgrad Officer attacks student TWICE in same night

Last night should have been an evening of celebrations after the UEA SU election results were announced. One Officer, though, was more interested in causing violence than joining in the fun.

Politics student Daniel Wrigglesworth claims that Postgraduate Officer Liam McCafferty attacked him TWICE in unprovoked bursts of anger after results were announced.

Speaking to The Tab this morning, the second year said: “It basically all started after results because he was staring at me and saying things to people.

“He kept looking over and because I get anxious I just said: ‘if you have something to say just say it to me'”.

Daniel Wrigglesworth claims he was attacked twice last night

The first incident occurred in The Hive after 9pm near the gender neutral toilets. In a Union first, results were announced to the candidates before they were revealed to the public at 12.30am in the LCR.

Liam proceeded to close in on Daniel just outside the green room, and when in his face he was: “threatening me, calling me a cunt”.

Daniel continued: “He was very drunk at this point it seemed. I had a little bit, not a lot. I was about to open my prosecco but he interrupted”.

Daniel says that Liam threatened to get him and his friend evacuated from the building, at which point his friend stepped in and pushed Liam away. It is unknown why Liam was so enraged considering Daniel was not running for any Officer roles.

In the LCR later, Liam saw red again and proceeded to attack Daniel for the second time that night.

Daniel said: “He tried to push someone into me so I said: ‘you can’t be serious’, to which he squared up to me again, pushed me in my stomach and said he would ‘level me’, so I pushed him off me.”

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Daniel and Liam haven’t always seen eye to eye, but Daniel said: “We haven’t really agreed in Union Council or Student Officer Committee when I was on it but not to the point where we would fight. I don’t understand his issue. I wanted to enjoy the night, some amazing people won and he tried to ruin it”.

He added: “I think it’s a shame, I think most officers would never do that and it lets students down. Obviously tensions were high as it was election night but threatening students like that is never okay and the way he acted for the rest of the night just shows he shouldn’t be representing students.”

Witness to the event were Daniel’s friends, one of whom was newly elected LGBT+ officer Sharmin Hoque.

Of the incident, Sharmin said:  “It was completely childish, and I’m disgusted by the aggressive behaviour on all levels, and that for a first year like myself to see such hate between student union members is not welcoming at all, personal politics and cliques are stupid and need to end. Liam started on Dan first, I know that for sure.”

Dan with newly elected LGBT+ Officer Sharmin Hoque

An SU spokesperson said: “We take complaints about officer behaviour very seriously and handle them in accordance with a formal Code of Conduct which is available on the website. That procedure ensures that complainants are supported and heard, that proper investigations are carried out and that principles of natural justice apply.”

The spokesperson continued: “As such we cannot at this time comment on the specifics of this case. Should anyone want to raise an issue, question or concern about this or any other conduct issue they are advised to contact [email protected] who can advise on process further.”

Daniel has confirmed that he will be making a formal complaint later today as the first incident in The Hive will have been recorded on CCTV.

The Tab contacted Liam, but he has so far declined to comment.