Joey Barton has been accused of “heaping further pain and suffering” on the family of murdered teenager Anthony Walker after calling his unprovoked racist killing a “f****** scrap”.
Anthony, 18, was walking with his girlfriend and cousin on the evening of July 30, 2005, when he was racially abused as he reached a bus stop by then 17-year-old Michael Barton, Joey’s brother, who also threatened to stab him. Anthony’s group decided to walk to another bus stop near McGoldrick Park, Huyton.
However they were followed in a car by Barton and his cousin, Paul Taylor, who jumped out and ambushed Anthony as he reached the park. Taylor, then 20, drove an ice-axe into Anthony’s skull causing fatal brain injuries.
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Both men were found guilty of murder. Michael Barton was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years, but was released on licence in September last year after a Parole Board concluded he had made “exceptional progress” behind bars.
The murder and the subsequent trial attracted huge media interest and sparked soul-searching about racism in Merseyside and beyond.
Last night footage began circulating of the former Premier League footballer and Huyton native making comments about the case on a podcast hosted by Youtuber James English, which is advertised as “Football – Violence – prison The Joey Barton story”.
The full show is set to be released online tomorrow, but Mr English shared a trailer on social media. In the clip, Mr Barton, who was sacked as Bristol Rovers manager last month, says: “My brother lost 17 years of his life from 17, because his mate, who was his cousin at the time, thought it would be a fantastic idea, when they were having a f***ing scrap, to pull an ice axe out and swing it into somebody and it stuck in his head.”
The comments attracted an immediate backlash on social media. Now a statement issued by the Anthony Walker Foundation, which aims to tackle racism and prejudice, has slammed the “inaccurate” comments.
The statement says: “The Anthony Walker Foundation has become aware of an excerpt from a James English podcast featuring Joey Barton, wherein he refers to the murder of Anthony Walker by his brother Michael.
“We consider his description of Anthony’s murder as factually incorrect, lacking in any sensitivity given the serious nature of the incident, in which Anthony Walker tragically lost his life to a violent racially motivated attack by Mr Barton’s brother and his cousin Paul Taylor.
“This year is the eighteenth anniversary of Anthony’s murder, so we express our hope that Mr Barton will reflect on the impact of his words and the profound significance of the actions of his brother as he walks the street a free man. It is worth noting that Michael Barton did not lose 17 years of his life, the only life lost that day was Anthony’s and not for 17 years, but forever.
“It saddens us that someone with his reach and status would seem to trivialise the incident that led to such an outcome and heap further pain and suffering upon the family and friends of Anthony.
“The Anthony Walker Foundation will continue to strive for a more inclusive world where such an incident never reoccurs. Our charity will continue to tackle racism, hate crime and discrimination by providing educational opportunities and victim support services and by promoting equity and inclusion for all.”
After the murder, Barton and Thompson fled abroad. Joey Barton, who had spells with Manchester City, Newcastle United, Rangers and Burnley, publicly appealed for them to hand themselves in, and the pair eventually returned and were arrested.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
