A 'peaceful protest' is set to take place outside a Morrisons supermarket in Aldridge after the dismissal of store manager Sean Egan, who was sacked for confronting a shoplifter who allegedly spat in his face. Egan, who had worked at the Anchor Road store for 29 years, was dismissed in February for failing to follow the supermarket's 'do not detain' policy.
Community Support for Sean Egan
Egan, who started his career at Morrisons in 1997, has received widespread support from the community. Former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick described the decision as 'shameful' and 'everything that is wrong in our society'. Egan, a community hero who has run marathons for charity, is now raising funds for Acorns Children's Hospice.
Peaceful Protest Details
The protest, organized by local customers on the Facebook group Welcome to Aldridge, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 9am to 12pm in the Aldridge precinct. Egan is expected to attend and will run from the Bilston Morrisons store as part of his fundraising efforts for the Birmingham Half Marathon in May 2026.
An anonymous organizer stated: 'Sean did so much for his customers and the community and continuously raised tens of thousands of pounds for different charities. It would be great for the community to come together and support Sean at his time in need.'
Morrisons' Response
A Morrisons spokesperson said: 'We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores. The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed. These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk.'
The protest aims to show solidarity with Egan and raise funds for charity. Organizers are urging attendees to confirm their presence to inform the police of expected numbers.
