Joey Barton, a former footballer, has made headlines for all the wrong reasons after being found guilty of assaulting his wife in a court ruling on Tuesday.
This case has attracted even more attention due to the irony of his previous statements condemning domestic violence.
The Incident That Led to the Guilty Verdict
The incident in question took place in June 2021, when Barton, 42, assaulted his wife, Georgia Barton, 36, during a drunken argument.
According to court reports, Barton kicked Georgia in the head, causing a “golf ball” sized lump.
The argument also reportedly involved threats to fight her brother and father.
The assault left Georgia with visible injuries, and she called emergency services, stating simply, “He just hit me in the house.”
Barton, who previously played for clubs like Manchester City and Newcastle, has been handed a 12-week suspended sentence following his conviction.
A Controversial Tweet Resurfaces
The case has taken on an added layer of irony after a 2015 tweet from Barton resurfaced.
In the tweet, Barton strongly condemned men who hit women, saying, “How can you possibly hit women on multiple occasions and blame an incident a decade earlier? Men who hit women are nothing but s***houses.”
Social media users quickly seized on this tweet, mocking the hypocrisy of Barton’s previous stance in light of the court’s verdict.
One person responded with, “Aged like milk, again,” while others shared memes or simply called him a “s***house,” echoing his own words back at him.
Barton’s Response to the Verdict
Following his guilty verdict, Barton expressed his disappointment with the ruling on social media.
He wrote, “Really disappointed in the magistrate’s decision today.
Especially after a judge 2 and a half years ago in Wimbledon Magistrates ruled in my favour.”
Barton also indicated his intention to appeal the decision, stating that he would be taking the case to a higher court.
Adding to the controversy, Barton posted the phrase “Tiocfaidh ár lá” on his X account, which translates to “our day will come.”
This Irish republican slogan, often associated with the IRA, sparked further criticism, especially considering its historical context.
The Case Takes an Unexpected Turn
The legal journey has been complicated. In February 2022, Georgia Barton wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service, stating she no longer supported the case.
Despite this, the High Court ruled that Barton should still stand trial.
During the trial, the chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, found discrepancies in the couple’s testimonies.
He stated that he believed Georgia’s original account of the events, which was supported by other evidence, including a 999 call.
Goldspring emphasized that Georgia’s later claim that the injuries were accidental was “unbelievable” and that both she and Barton had contradicted themselves during the trial, leading him to conclude they were not being truthful.
A Shamed Footballer Faces Sentencing
After being convicted, Barton was sentenced by Goldspring, who made it clear that the nature of the assault was particularly troubling.
“The one place your wife is entitled to feel safe and protected is her home, and the one person she is entitled to feel safe and protected by is you, and that’s not what happened in this case,” Goldspring told Barton during sentencing.
This case has sparked widespread discussion, not only about Barton’s actions but also about the hypocrisy of public figures who advocate for one set of values while failing to live up to them themselves.