Human rights director questioned over train racism
A human rights organisation director and former Northern Irish police officer has been identified as part of a racial incident on the Paris Metro last week, but denies any involvement.
Richard Barklie has apologised after he was pictured with a group of Chelsea football fans who pushed a black man off a train in Paris and sang racist chants at him last week.
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The Irishman was suspended from his work at a Northern Irish trauma centre after his photo was released by Scotland Yard as part of their investigation.
Mobile phone footage showed a group of men yelling “we’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” after denying the man from getting on the train.
Mr Barklie is the director for the World Human Rights Forum and, according to The Guardian, has given talks on racism at conferences in places such as India.
In a statement, Mr Barlie’s lawyer said he was assisting police with inquiries but didn’t participate in any racial chanting and didn’t know the other men.
“He wants to put on record his sincerest apologies for the trauma and stress suffered by Mr Souleymane,” solicitor Kevin Winters 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.”