Former police officer apologises for involvement during Paris Metro incident
A former police officer released a statement Monday to apologise for his involvement with Chelsea supporters during last weeks racist incident on the Paris Metro.
Richard Barklie, formerly of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was one of three men whose image was released by Scotland Yard in connection to the incident where a black commuter was denied entry on a train as supporters pushed him out of the carriage and chanted a racist song ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Barklie, in a statement released through his lawyer, denied any association with Chelsea supporter groups, saying he traveled to France alone, and that he didn't take part in the chants
Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters issued the statement on Barklie's behalf and expressed his client's willingness to assist London Metropolitan Police with its investigation, outlining his charity work as director with the World Human Rights Forum as reason for his compliance with the matter.
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.
Today a senior official in the World Human Rights Forum confirmed their support for him.
The accused was also a member of the Wave Trauma Centre in Belfast and assisted in the recovery process for victims affected by the Northern Irish Troubles, but has since been suspended from the organization.
While he may not have an association with a supporters group, the video appears to show Barklie and several other fans push the commuter - since identified as Souleymane S - as he tries to board the train. Barklie is standing at the doors and is captured in the video, with other supporters, forcefully denying the man entry.
The statement doesn't mention his physical involvement during the event, but acknowledges he played a role in denying the man access.
He travelled alone to the Paris St 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.
It went on to express his readiness to aid the police by offering his account of the circumstances that transpired and offered his apologies to the victim.
Scotland Yard are unable to arrest Barklie or the other two men whose images were made public because the event took place outside the United Kingdom.
- With h/t to FOX Sports