AN EX-police officer from the North of Ireland could be facing a three-year prison sentence after he was identified as one of the Chelsea fans who allegedly directed racist abuse towards a black man in Paris.
Co Antrim native Richard Barklie, 50, denies his involvement in the incident which occurred ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain last week, where racist chants were shouted at a man named Souleymane S on the city’s Métro.
If found guilty, Barklie faces a fine of up to £33,300 and a prison sentence.
Barklie, an ex-police officer who now works in human rights, was yesterday suspended as a part-time employee of the WAVE Trauma centre, a counselling centre for victims of the Troubles, as a result of the incident.
In a statement, his lawyer Kevin Winters said that Barklie had the support of the head of the World Human Rights Forum in his denial of being labelled a racist.
“We contacted London Metropolitan police today to advise that our client is happy to assist with inquiries. Pending formal engagement with police, our client is anxious to put on record his total abhorrence for racism and any activity associated with it.
“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 that he is a racist. Mr Barklie is a Chelsea season ticket holder and has travelled to matches for over 20 years now without incident.
“He travelled alone to the Paris Saint-Germain match and has no knowledge whatsoever of the identities of the other people depicted in recent YouTube video releases. He wants to stress that he was not and never has been part of any group or faction of Chelsea supporters.
“He did not participate in racist chanting and singing and condemns any behaviour supporting that. He accepts he was involved in an incident when a person now known to him as Souleymane S was unable to enter a part of the train.
“He has an account to give police which will explain the context and circumstances as they prevailed at that particular time.
“We accept on behalf of our client that public interest demands nothing but total indignation and condemnation from all media reporting but such reporting ought not to persist at the expense of undermining Mr Barklie’s right to a fair trial.”
The Belfast lawyer added that the Metropolitan police confirmed “that arrangements were in hand to take the investigation to the next stage.”
Scotland Yard have not made any arrests as a police spokesman said the force cannot arrest people for offences that occur outside Britain.
Chelsea has suspended five people from attending Stamford Bridge following investigations into the incident.
