A Cambridge student who was filmed burning money in front of a homeless man has been named, with Ronald Coyne’s mother responding to the footage and branding his actions “thoughtless and cruel”.
Coyne, a University of Cambridge student and member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA), was filmed attempting to light a £20 night across the street from a homeless man. The video was widely shared via Snapchat, and led to CUCA expelling Coyne, with a statement from the association calling the incident “abhorrent and repugnant”. There is also a petition calling for the University of Cambridge
Speaking to a journalist from her home in Scotland, Coyne’s mother condemned her son’s actions, though insisted that he had previously volunteered at a homeless shelter shop for two years handing out tea, coffee and sandwiches to rough sleepers. “I don’t really know why he’s done something so thoughtless and cruel,” she said, adding: “It’s very surprising. We’re just a normal family. We’re not toffs, he’s not a toff.”
A photo of Ronald Coyne, the student filmed burning the £20 note. (Credit: YouTube)
The short video, which was filmed in the early hours of February 2, shows Coyne struggling to light the £20 note while the camera pans over to the homeless man. The student can be heard saying “some homeless shelter” before the video cuts out.
Speaking to the student newspaper The Tab, a Cambridge resident who saw Coyne shortly after the video was filmed said: “I was blocked from getting into my college as some chap in white tie was being excluded by the porters. I saw the videos of what he did the next morning, and am utterly shocked and appalled that someone would do such a thing.
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of the student body when I say that we condemn such actions.”
A University of Cambridge spokesman said: “The University is committed to respecting the rights and dignity of all members of our community.
“We expect our students to treat others with respect, courtesy and consideration at all times, and the University takes allegations of unacceptable behaviour very seriously.”
