Headteacher Allegedly Assaulted by Joey Barton Pictured After Golf Club Fight
Kevin Lynch, the 51-year-old headteacher allegedly assaulted by former footballer Joey Barton, has been pictured for the first time since being seriously injured in a fight at a golf club near Liverpool. The father-of-two suffered facial injuries and feared losing sight in his left eye following the alleged attack last month.
Details of the Alleged Assault
Mr Lynch, who is married and a former semi-professional footballer, was said to have been assaulted at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club on March 8. He was today photographed leaving his semi-detached home in Prescot, appearing to sport bruising on his forehead and near his left eye socket. This marks his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital.
Police previously stated that Mr Lynch was left in a serious but stable condition after the incident. A court was told last month that he sustained injuries to his face and ribs, with the potential for vision loss in one eye. Neighbours reported hearing a man groaning in pain and seeing pools of blood on the street before paramedics arrived at around 9pm on the day of the attack.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Joey Barton, 43, was remanded in custody following the alleged assault and charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent. He appeared alongside his friend and roofer Gary O'Grady, 50, who faces the same charge. Barton, from Widnes, Cheshire, is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on April 7.
It is understood that Mr Lynch, Barton, and O'Grady were all known to each other and are registered members of the £1,440-a-year Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. Barton, who made one appearance for England and played for clubs including Manchester City, Rangers, and Marseille, later pursued a management career at Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers before launching his podcast, Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Mr Lynch's Professional and Personal Life
Mr Lynch is the headteacher of NexGen Academy, a school for children with additional needs in Liverpool, which he founded. He has also managed football clubs such as Prescot Cables FC, Marine AFC, and City of Liverpool FC. Known for his deep religious faith, he once asked a local priest to bless Marine's pitch during a losing streak, telling his local newspaper in 2010 that it made him feel better in terms of his own faith.
The case continues to develop as legal proceedings advance, with further updates expected following Barton's court appearance next month.
