ST HELENS Council leader Brian Spencer is to investigate insensitive comments about the deaths of two Labour councillors that were posted on a website by Liberal Democrat Councillor David Crowther.

After the St Helens Star exclusively broke the story today, Lib Dem Cllr Spencer said the comments on the Facebook website by Crowther - one of his party’s most senior councillors - should “not have been made”.

Cllr Crowther’s remarks, which referred to the deaths of Labour stalwarts Mike Doyle and Ken Pinder, were posted during an online conversation with former Lib Dem politician, Neil Derbyshire.

Today Cllr Spencer told the Star that he had started an investigation into the comments.

Spencer has also sent a letter of apology to Cllr Doyle’s widow, Julia, and also apologised to one of Cllr Pinder’s sons.

The comments that have caused the storm were posted by Cllr Crowther - who as chair of planning holds one of the most important positions on St Helens Council - on January 11 in his Facebook page.

Referring to the two Labour councillors’ deaths, he wrote: “It might be three before long - at least one other is rumoured to be seriously ill - great shame their (sic) not our target seats, but at least it will give us the chance to see how strong they are and it will seriously distract them for a few months.”

In this week’s Star, Julia Doyle said the comments were despicable and said Cllr Crowther should consider his position.

She said “these comments show he is not fit to hold public office”.

The Star understands Mrs Doyle intends to issue a formal complaint to the Standards Board for England, which investigates councillors’ conduct.

When the Star contacted Cllr Crowther yesterday (Wednesday), he said: “I agree the remarks are insensitive and on reflection that is not the kind of thing that should have been put on Facebook. I apologise for any distress that may have been caused.”

Meanwhile, Council Leader Spencer said he would be looking into the matter to see if Cllr Crowther had breached the code of conduct.

However, Spencer did maintain the comments were intended to be “a private communication between two individuals”.

However, it was clear the online wall-to-wall chat - which the St Helens Star has a copy of - could be viewed by Facebook members.

It is understood the Facebook profiles of Cllr Crowther and Mr Derbyshire were deleted after the Star contacted the Liberal Democrats yesterday.

The sensitivity of this matter means the St Helens Star has disabled the comments section for this story. Readers can send their emails to news@sthelensstar.co.uk and they will be considered for publication.