A former Royal Marine who was acquitted of inciting racial hatred has been barred from coaching children, sparking outcry from free speech campaigners. Jamie Michael, 47, from Penygraig, south Wales, was cleared by a jury in just 17 minutes after referring to some migrants as 'scumbags' and 'psychopaths' in a Facebook video posted after the Southport murders.
Despite the acquittal, the local safeguarding board deemed Michael unsuitable to work with children. Less than two weeks after the verdict, a child protection concern against him was substantiated. The Football Association of Wales subsequently banned him from coaching his daughter's team following a private meeting with the safeguarding officer and South Wales Police.
Michael, who is suing for £25,000 for breach of human rights, said: 'It makes no sense. It just seems to me they want to punish me because of my opinions and because my views don't align with theirs.' Campaigners argue that safeguarding laws are being used to silence patriotic views, calling it a 'scandalous abuse of the system.'
The case has also raised concerns about free speech under Sir Keir Starmer's government, with the Trump administration previously warning of erosion of such rights in the UK. A campaign group claims to have uncovered over a dozen similar instances where child protection rules are used to suppress right-wing opinions.
