A man accused of carrying out an alleged assault with Joey Barton has had the case against him discontinued. Gary O'Grady, 50, was charged alongside the former top-level footballer in connection with an alleged attack near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club in March.
Case Discontinued at Liverpool Crown Court
The Liverpool Echo previously reported that the pair were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent against complainant Kevin Lynch, who was hospitalised with serious facial injuries. Barton denied the charge while Mr O'Grady was yet to enter a plea.
Mr O'Grady, of Seel Road in Huyton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, where his legal counsel applied to dismiss the charge he faced. During the hearing, the case against self-employed roofer Mr O'Grady was discontinued.
Joey Barton Still Faces Trial
Judge David Potter confirmed that Barton, 43 and of Fox Bank Close in Widnes, will still face a seven-day trial beginning on September 1 this year. The alleged victim, 51-year-old Kevin Lynch, was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after sustaining injuries to his face and body during the altercation at around 9pm on Sunday, March 8.
He was said to have been found covered in blood on Fairway, close to the entrance to the golf club, before emergency services were called to the scene. Both Barton and Mr O'Grady appear on England Golf lists as members of the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. The golf club's social media has also posted that Mr Lynch was a member.
Victim and Barton Background
Mr Lynch previously managed Prescot Cables, Marine and City of Liverpool FC, and is also the founder and headteacher of NexGen Academy in Dovecot, a school for children with additional needs. Barton, who is on remand ahead of his trial, made 269 Premier League appearances for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley. The one-time England international midfielder, originally from Huyton, also turned out for Marseille and Rangers before managing Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers. He has since hosted the Common Sense With Joey Barton podcast, which is described as an 'unfiltered' look at issues in sport, society and politics.
