A FIREFIGHTER who found himself at the heart of a disciplinary investigation following a derogatory statement he made about a child with Down's Syndrome has apologised for his comments.

Peter Clives, from Old Hutton, came under fire when he wrote a comment on a Facebook status by colleague Mike Wilkinson.

The post was made on the eve of World Down's Syndrome Day as Mr Wilkinson, whose son Enzo-Ty has the genetic condition, urged his friends and family to raise awareness of the disorder, which causes learning disabilities.

"I want to unreservedly apologise to anybody I have offended," Mr Clives told The Westmorland Gazette. "It was not a deliberate action and it was not intended for a public forum.

"It was totally unacceptable.

"Myself and Mike are good friends – we were before and we are afterwards – but I just want to apologise publicly for any offence caused."

Mr Wilkinson, himself a firefighter from Barrow, earlier said his colleague had contacted him and his wife Kerry to apologise 'profusely'. It was, he said, an apology they had accepted.

"Having known Peter for quite some time I know there was no malice in his comments," he said. "It was just an ill-conceived attempt at humour.

"We've made it clear it was not funny in any context and he agrees with that now in hindsight.

"We have accepted his apology and know there was no malice. Peter knows we were disappointed with his comment but we were not hurt."

Mr Wilkinson added: "The man is embarrassed by what he put and has admitted it was daft."

After receiving a complaint, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service launched an investigation and suspended Mr Clives from his role.

John McVay, assistant chief fire officer, said: "These comments are completely unacceptable and do not reflect the values of Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service.

"I would like to sincerely apologise on behalf of the service for the offence and distress these comments have caused and will be contacting the family directly in this regard.”

Mr Clives, a 49-year-old who has served in the Royal Navy, currently works out of Ulverston Fire Station.

The Fire Brigades Union's secretary for Cumbria, Eddie Burrows, was also shocked by the firefighter's comment.

"We are very committed to equality and we are very surprised if any firefighter made any comment like that," Mr Burrows said.

"If someone made a complaint to the union about it we would do an investigation and consider banning him from the union.

"We are representatives of the fire service and we should be held to account and our standards should be as high as possible."

A spokeswoman for the Down's Syndrome Association said: "People with Down’s syndrome are all unique individuals and should be acknowledged as a person first and foremost. Insulting language and outdated attitudes and stereotypes about people with disabilities have no place in our society."

The Gazette has chosen not to publish what Mr Clives posted.