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A Labour councillor was subjected to a campaign of “unacceptable harassment” after complaints about a Facebook post.

Mum-of-four Clare McIntyre was accused of discrimination by Labour campaigner and Merseyside Pensioners Association member Phil Maxwell.

While party officials accepted he was “distressed” by the post they dismissed the allegation - and ordered those said to have targeted the nurse to stop doing so “immediately”.

The ruling marked the end of a row sparked by the comment - found not to have been malicious - made by Wavertree’s Cllr McIntyre.

The 46-year-old wrote she “looked forward” to Mr Maxwell “campaigning on the doorsteps” within an online campaign group they were both members of.

The post prompted complaints from disabled Mr Maxwell and his supporters, who argued it was “discriminatory” - with an MPA press release issued at the time even claiming he was “cruelly taunted”.

What followed led to Cllr McIntyre submitting her own complaint as she made allegations about being harassed.

Both issues were probed in a formal investigation by the Labour party, which delivered its verdict earlier this month.

*Party bosses: No malice intended in Facebook post

The regional office’s conclusion, obtained by the ECHO, stated the politician’s remarks were made “without any malicious intent”.

Accepting Mr Maxwell was genuinely distressed, regional bosses advised equality training should take place within the constituency group and urged members to take care when commenting on social media.

But moving beyond the Facebook debacle they ruled Cllr McIntyre had been subjected to an “unacceptable level of harassment” that “no Labour member should have to face”.

Speaking to the ECHO, Cllr McIntyre insisted she meant no offence by her comment and thought her relationship with Mr Maxwell was a positive one.

She added that, as soon as she was made aware Mr Maxwell was upset, she removed the comment and apologised to him.

Cllr McIntyre said: “A complaint was raised about the comment and the harassment started not long after that.

“The regional board exonerated me - they found there was no malicious intent and that I was subjected to bullying and harassment that must stop.

*This is not just affecting me, it’s affecting my family too

“This has not just affected me, it’s affected my family. I have four children - my eldest has been asking me if these people know where we live.”

Cllr McIntyre added: “I hadn’t told my family because I was concerned they would be worried. Yet members of my family actually received an email from a Labour member asking them to go to a demonstration against me.

“It was a round robin email but the people who sent it weren’t even in the same Constituency Labour Party as those family members.”

She said the harassment included blogs, social media posts and demonstrations - with letters also sent to the council’s solicitors and the local Labour party’s chief whip calling for her resignation.

Speaking about the original post, she said: “The post was in a campaign group that we have.

“I often campaign and when I was elected in May 2017 the next day we had a party in Wavertree town hall.

“He (Mr Maxwell) attended and gave me a card. As far as I was concerned our relationship was a positive one.

“The first time I realised he was upset was when the police contacted me. As soon as I found out he was upset I immediately apologised and removed the post.

“This came out of the blue and I’m not sure why I’m being targeted and harassed. It’s an ongoing issue and has led to questions at my NHS workplace and of my children at school.

“The ongoing harassment has been stressful.”

*Merseyside Pensioners Association: Lobbying is a tradition and we wanted to support Phil

While Mr Maxwell did not want to comment on the situation, his fellow MPA member Tony Mulhearn released a statement to the ECHO in which he claimed he was “mystified” by the councillor’s concerns.

He said: “The MPA, quite properly, took the view that this was an affront to Phil, one of our severely disabled members, and declared our support for him. Phil’s carer sent the police determination that he was a victim of a ‘hate incident’ to the Labour Party and asked them to give it their consideration.”

The ECHO understands Merseyside Police was contacted in connection with the post but that the force determined no further action was necessary after preliminary investigations - investigations the force is duty-bound to carry out on receipt of such claims.

Mr Mulhearn questioned the legitimacy of some of the evidence Cllr McIntyre submitted to the regional board hearing, though the Labour ruling made no reference to this.

He added: “The MPA decided to lobby the hearing in support of Phil.

“Lobbying is a great British tradition to indicate support for some one you support.

“Cllr McIntyre indicated this was against her. The lobby was to support Phil rather than bring grief to Cllr McIntyre, who enjoyed considerable support from several councillors. People at the lobby carried posters that said ‘stop hate’ and ‘disability is not a crime’. Cllr McIntyre’s name was not mentioned.”

*Social media ‘swirl’ must stop

He did slam any action that had led to Cllr McIntyre’s children being affected, however, stressing: “As for her claim that her children are being affected by the swirl on social media, Phil and I agree that is totally unacceptable.

“Unfortunately, once arguments start being conducted publicly on social media different interpretations and misconceptions come into play with possible unpleasant consequences.”

He said “fundamental political differences” were behind the issues and added: “Finally, can I emphasise that we will continue to support our member, and that the MPA is not responsible for any harassment which is perceived by Cllr McIntyre.”

*Labour Party bosses: Their ruling in full

Following its hearing, Labour’s regional hearing released the following statement: “The regional hearing team reviewed both written information and verbal submissions in regard to comments on and off social media made by Clare McIntyre, the panel took the clear view that the comments were made without any malicious intent.

“It is equally clear that Phil Maxwell, was distressed by the comments made. The regional team regrets the distress caused to Phil and those close to him. All members should take careful consideration before making any comment to ensure they will not offend.

“To this end the panel recommend that disability awareness training should take place in the constituency and be offered as part of a wider equality training package to other party units, in addition the regional office should look to put on a regional event which includes equality training.”

“It is also the case that in the run up to the panel hearing, Clare McIntyre has been subjected to an unacceptable level of harassment. No Labour Party member should have to face harassment and this should cease immediately.

“The panel agreed that earlier mediation at a local level, could well have stopped this issue escalating, and asks the regional office to provide mediation advice and training to all constituencies.”