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Man sets himself on fire outside Job Centre in Birmingham

  • 29-06-2012 04:31PM
    #1
    brummytom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,572 ✭✭✭✭


    This is a local news story, but I'm surprised it hasn't been picked up by the national press (except for the Telegraph).
    A DESPERATE job seeker set himself alight outside a Birmingham Jobcentre in an alleged row over his benefit payments.

    Horrified eyewitnesses saw the man douse himself in flammable liquid after tying himself to railings at the Jobcentre Plus in Harborne Lane, Selly Oak, at around 9.20am.

    Cops rushed to the aid of the 48-year-old man and sprayed him with fire extinguishers after he suffered burns to his lower legs.


    The building remained closed throughout the day and claimants were told that payments would be made directly to banks. One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: “The guy came into the Jobcentre with petrol and made threats, so they evacuated the whole building.

    http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/06/29/desperate-jobseeker-sets-himself-alight-outside-selly-oak-jobcentre-97319-31284847/

    EDIT: There's a better article at The Guardian. That also mentions an attempted suicide at a benefits office in Liverpool, which I'd not heard about before.

    Obviously we've seen similar things in Greece et al., but is this just one lone nutter or indicative of the fact that people really are desperate?


«13

Comments

  • #2
    1ZRed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,293 ✭✭✭1ZRed


    And what does he think this will achieve?

    "I have the balls to stet myself on fire, therefore, I'm a perfect candidate for your job position!"

    tumblr_m5zuivZKDZ1qlutygo1_250.gif


  • #3
    Where To
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭Where To


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY


  • #4
    Fentdog84
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 936 ✭✭✭Fentdog84


    Its amazing that someone would rather set themselves on fire than get a job


  • #5
    Nothingbetter2d
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,037 ✭✭✭Nothingbetter2d


    1ZRed wrote: »
    And what does he think this will achieve?

    "I have the balls to stet myself on fire, therefore, I'm a perfect candidate for your job position!"

    tumblr_m5zuivZKDZ1qlutygo1_250.gif

    he might get a job playing a burns victim on one of telly's hospital soaps


  • #6
    My name is URL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,623 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    brummytom wrote: »
    but is this just one lone nutter or indicative of the fact that people really are desperate?

    A little from column A and...

    in any case, it's not really something that should be joked about.


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  • #7
    Agricola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,547 ✭✭✭Agricola


    1ZRed wrote: »
    And what does he think this will achieve?

    "I have the balls to stet myself on fire, therefore, I'm a perfect candidate for your job position!"

    tumblr_m5zuivZKDZ1qlutygo1_250.gif

    Are you for real? Did you consider that he may have been awaiting a payment that wasnt getting processed? A payment that he might need to buy food for himself and/or his kids? I think his job prospects were possibly a little down the list of his priorities maybe!


  • #8
    brummytom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,572 ✭✭✭✭brummytom


    1ZRed wrote: »
    And what does he think this will achieve?

    "I have the balls to stet myself on fire, therefore, I'm a perfect candidate for your job position!"

    tumblr_m5zuivZKDZ1qlutygo1_250.gif
    In fairness, it was in response to his benefit payments rather than a lack of job offers. I know people in AH hate 'all dem bluddy benefit scroungers' but they're being absolutely raped in this country at the moment.


  • #9
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    Whatever his situation was, setting himself on fire was a pretty stupid and pointless move.


  • #10
    Janedoe10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 479 ✭✭Janedoe10


    Dean09 wrote: »
    Whatever his situation was, setting himself on fire was a pretty stupid and pointless move.


    I think this in indicative of the situation out there . Report of an OAP in greece shot himself In front of a bank .person in Italy fire . It's sad what ever the circumstances that they have to resort to that.

    All in protest http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9186568/Austerity-suicide-Greek-pensioner-shoots-himself-in-Athens.html


  • #11
    celticcrash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 851 ✭✭✭celticcrash


    brummytom wrote: »
    In fairness, it was in response to his benefit payments rather than a lack of job offers. I know people in AH hate 'all dem bluddy benefit scroungers' but they're being absolutely raped in this country at the moment.
    Its Ok Tommy ,I think he was an Aston Villa fan.


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  • #12
    snubbleste
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 31,119 ✭✭✭✭snubbleste


    Some unemployed Tunisian guy set himself on fire. It brought down the government, and the next country over had a change of government and the next country over to that had a change of government.
    People set themselves on fire regularly in Tibet but it does'nt make the headlines that often either.


  • #13
    Lollers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Lollers


    Poor chap, poverty and desperation often go hand in hand. This must have been his tipping point.


  • #14
    maximoose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,220 ✭✭✭maximoose


    We're all suffering, no need to get so hot headed.


  • #15
    Varied
    Closed Accounts Posts: 725 ✭✭✭Varied


    The saying, "flaming numpty" comes to mind.


  • #16
    1ZRed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,293 ✭✭✭1ZRed


    Agricola wrote: »
    Are you for real? Did you consider that he may have been awaiting a payment that wasnt getting processed? A payment that he might need to buy food for himself and/or his kids? I think his job prospects were possibly a little down the list of his priorities maybe!

    Hang on I misread the post! Wow my mistake there:o


  • #17
    kowloon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,098 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    snubbleste wrote: »
    People set themselves on fire regularly in Tibet but it does'nt make the headlines that often either.

    I gather that's all to do with religious autocracy though, so perhaps it's not a cause more noteworthy than unemployment in Birmingham. I do have a reputation for being wrong quite frequently though.


  • #18
    celticcrash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 851 ✭✭✭celticcrash


    kowloon wrote: »
    I gather that's all to do with religious autocracy though, so perhaps it's not a cause more noteworthy than unemployment in Birmingham. I do have a reputation for being wrong quite frequently though.
    Over 30 Tibetans have courageously set fire to themselves in protests against China's repressive occupation. If your found with a picture of the Dali Lama you could be sent to prison and if not at least a bad beating.
    And of course it does not make the headlines, China controls all media that comes out of tibet.
    Even google was censored in China.


  • #19
    Pottler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,073 ✭✭✭Pottler


    In fairness, if I had to live in Birmingham, I'd gladly douse myself with petrol, and whip out the zippo. I think the man deserves sympathy, he stuck it for 40+ years. It's a bit of a kip. Liverpool too. They could film a movie set in Beirut in either of them. In fairness, if you are that desperate, there might be a few more quid in setting other things than yourself alight. Especially in a recession- arsonists are always in demand when a business wants to go out with a bang.


  • #20
    christmas2012
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,827 ✭✭✭christmas2012


    shocking hope hes alright


  • #21
    Gummy Panda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,919 ✭✭✭✭Gummy Panda


    A Pakistani lad did this before in Artane Castle. He went into the Tescos and grabbed lighter fluid then set himself on fire outside the hairdressers.

    Crazy shít


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  • #22
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    brummytom wrote: »
    In fairness, it was in response to his benefit payments rather than a lack of job offers. I know people in AH hate 'all dem bluddy benefit scroungers' but they're being absolutely raped in this country at the moment.

    Without getting to much into the social welfare system in the UK v the one here, atleast (as far as i'm aware) in the UK you have to provide proof of your job hunting on a fortnightly basis, here you just sign your name. A whole 16 months on JSB/JSA and I wasn't asked to provide proof once.


  • #23
    Mr Benevolent
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,433 ✭✭✭✭Mr Benevolent


    Varied wrote: »
    The saying, "flaming numpty" comes to mind.

    Not if you're Irish.


  • #24
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,518 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    Why do you do if the Late Late Show goes on fire?......Watch Gay Byrne.


  • #25
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    Any mention of the individuals nationality?


  • #26
    furmi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 76 ✭✭furmi


    It also happens here in this country and not just in Birmingham and I precict you will see alot more of this crazy stuff.


  • #27
    NIMAN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,071 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    furmi wrote: »
    It also happens here in this country and not just in Birmingham and I precict you will see alot more of this crazy stuff.
    Some examples, cos I cant think of a single case of anyone here setting themselves on fire as a form of protest.


  • #28
    SocSocPol
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,043 ✭✭✭SocSocPol


    juan.kerr wrote: »
    Any mention of the individuals nationality?
    What difference would that make?


  • #29
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    SocSocPol wrote: »
    What difference would that make?

    Who said it makes a difference?


  • #30
    SocSocPol
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,043 ✭✭✭SocSocPol


    juan.kerr wrote: »
    Who said it makes a difference?
    Well if it makes no difference why did you ask in the first place? Odds are as it happened in birmingham his nationality would be English.


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  • #31
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    SocSocPol wrote: »
    Well if it makes no difference why did you ask in the first place? Odds are as it happened in birmingham his nationality would be English.

    Maybe, maybe not.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_Birmingham#Ethnicity


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