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Eric Joyce denies being charged with breach of peace Eric Joyce denies being charged with breach of peace
(4 months later)
The independent MP Eric Joyce has denied being charged with any breach of the peace after being arrested at Edinburgh airport on Sunday after an alleged fracas with staff and police.The independent MP Eric Joyce has denied being charged with any breach of the peace after being arrested at Edinburgh airport on Sunday after an alleged fracas with staff and police.
In his blog, Joyce, the MP for Falkirk, said he had not been interviewed or formally charged with any offence, despite reports he was arrested and reported to prosecutors for breach of the peace.In his blog, Joyce, the MP for Falkirk, said he had not been interviewed or formally charged with any offence, despite reports he was arrested and reported to prosecutors for breach of the peace.
Joyce said the procurator fiscal's office had confirmed no police report had been submitted, and he also insisted that witness accounts reported by the media about Sunday's incident were "manifestly untrue and would represent perjury if repeated in court".Joyce said the procurator fiscal's office had confirmed no police report had been submitted, and he also insisted that witness accounts reported by the media about Sunday's incident were "manifestly untrue and would represent perjury if repeated in court".
He did not specify what was inaccurate in those accounts, but witnesses reported seeing him being allegedly abusive towards handling staff and the police, and being forcibly restrained on the floor of the airport's domestic arrivals lounge.He did not specify what was inaccurate in those accounts, but witnesses reported seeing him being allegedly abusive towards handling staff and the police, and being forcibly restrained on the floor of the airport's domestic arrivals lounge.
The incident allegedly occurred after Joyce realised he had left his mobile phone on a flight from London, and tried to get permission to retrieve it. It is alleged that airport staff would not let him board the flight, and there was an angry exchange. The police were then called.The incident allegedly occurred after Joyce realised he had left his mobile phone on a flight from London, and tried to get permission to retrieve it. It is alleged that airport staff would not let him board the flight, and there was an angry exchange. The police were then called.
Writing on Wednesday evening, Joyce stated: "First, the police did not interview me. No statement was taken, no medical examination took place. I was not given access to a lawyer – none was deemed required. I was not charged.Writing on Wednesday evening, Joyce stated: "First, the police did not interview me. No statement was taken, no medical examination took place. I was not given access to a lawyer – none was deemed required. I was not charged.
"Police Scotland has today, however, put out a statement to the effect that I 'will appear in court at a later date'. This is an egregious error. It prejudges consideration by the procurator fiscal and has wrongly led the Scottish and UK media to report that I have been charged with an offence."Police Scotland has today, however, put out a statement to the effect that I 'will appear in court at a later date'. This is an egregious error. It prejudges consideration by the procurator fiscal and has wrongly led the Scottish and UK media to report that I have been charged with an offence.
"This afternoon I contacted the procurator fiscal's office and it confirmed that no report has yet been received from Police Scotland, let alone acted upon."This afternoon I contacted the procurator fiscal's office and it confirmed that no report has yet been received from Police Scotland, let alone acted upon.
"Following that, this evening I received an email from Police Scotland to confirm that indeed no report has yet been submitted. It remains unclear how or why, in the absence of a report or consideration by the procurator fiscal, Police Scotland believes or knows at this stage that I will be charged with an offence.""Following that, this evening I received an email from Police Scotland to confirm that indeed no report has yet been submitted. It remains unclear how or why, in the absence of a report or consideration by the procurator fiscal, Police Scotland believes or knows at this stage that I will be charged with an offence."
Joyce said the incident took place after he spoke to "a very rude and unhelpful member of ground staff (to whom I had provided my aircraft information and seat number, 18D, several times) and a police officer who, having identified me, reacted extraordinarily inappropriately and in effect caused a disturbance (in spite of his own colleague agreeing with me that I should simply walk away)".Joyce said the incident took place after he spoke to "a very rude and unhelpful member of ground staff (to whom I had provided my aircraft information and seat number, 18D, several times) and a police officer who, having identified me, reacted extraordinarily inappropriately and in effect caused a disturbance (in spite of his own colleague agreeing with me that I should simply walk away)".
Joyce admitted, however, that his arrest and conviction last year for assaults in a House of Commons bar, and further allegations of involvement in another fight at a Commons bar in March, which did not lead to court proceedings, had damaged his reputation.Joyce admitted, however, that his arrest and conviction last year for assaults in a House of Commons bar, and further allegations of involvement in another fight at a Commons bar in March, which did not lead to court proceedings, had damaged his reputation.
"[I] appreciate that my past behaviour has not helped. I've made my reputation and I have to accept that," he said. Joyce quit the Labour party in March 2012 after his conviction."[I] appreciate that my past behaviour has not helped. I've made my reputation and I have to accept that," he said. Joyce quit the Labour party in March 2012 after his conviction.
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