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Chelsea Paris Metro racist chants: Ex-policeman in court | Chelsea Paris Metro racist chants: Ex-policeman in court |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former policeman pushed a black man twice and refused to allow him on to a Paris Metro train as Chelsea fans chanted racist songs, a court heard. | A former policeman pushed a black man twice and refused to allow him on to a Paris Metro train as Chelsea fans chanted racist songs, a court heard. |
Richard Barklie from Carrickfergus is one of four fans facing a football banning order over a racist confrontation filmed ahead of a Champions League game in February. | |
The footage showed several fans chanting: "We're racist and that's the way we like it." | The footage showed several fans chanting: "We're racist and that's the way we like it." |
Mr Barklie denies chanting. | Mr Barklie denies chanting. |
The Metropolitan Police is applying for football banning orders to be imposed on four men the force believes were involved in the confrontation. | |
In addition to Richard Barklie, 50, of Victoria Street in Carrickfergus, Jordan Munday, 20, of Ellenborough Road, Sidcup; Josh Parsons, 20, of Woodhouse Place, Dorking; and William Simpson, 26, of Hengrove Crescent in Ashford, Surrey, are challenging the ban. | |
'Human rights work' | |
The prosecuting lawyer told the court Mr Barklie had previously been convicted of drinking and driving, or driving whilst disqualified and that he had been found urinating in the lobby of a hotel. | |
He was also heavily intoxicated in April 2015 at a match between Leicester and Chelsea, the court heard. | |
Speaking about the Paris confrontation, the prosecutor said Mr Barklie "was present in the group, pushed the victim twice and joined in the chanting". | Speaking about the Paris confrontation, the prosecutor said Mr Barklie "was present in the group, pushed the victim twice and joined in the chanting". |
Mr Barklie said he condemns "any behaviour supporting" the chanting of racist songs. | |
The season ticket holder has been suspended as a part-time staff member at a voluntary organisation in Belfast, the Wave Trauma Centre. | |
But he has received support from The World Human Rights Forum, where he is a director. | |
In a statement, Mr Barklie's solicitor said: "As someone who has spent years working with disadvantaged communities in Africa and India, he can point to a CV in human rights work which undermines any suggestion he is racist." | |
The Thames Magistrates' Court hearing, sitting in Stratford, continues. |