Greek lawyer slams Harry Maguire's 'ridiculous' account of Mykonos arrest

"Even if you accepted this as true, which I don't, these are not the actions of an honourable man"
Imogen Braddick28 August 2020
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The Greek lawyer who led the prosecution against Harry Maguire has hit out at the footballer's "ridiculous" account of his arrest.

The Manchester United captain spoke out last night on BBC News for first time since he was given a suspended jail term after a brawl on the Greek island of Mykonos last week.

Mr Maguire said he believed he was being kidnapped and feared for his life during his arrest.

He said plain-clothed police officers threw him off his group’s minibus, hit him in his legs and told him his career was over.

The 27-year-old said he tried to run away because he had no idea who the men were.

Harry Maguire (second left) has lodged an appeal against his convictions
AFP via Getty Images

Prosecution lawyer Ioannis Paradissis described Mr Maguire's account of the events as "ridiculous" and "unbelievable".

"I've seen and read what Maguire said and it's ridiculous and only adds further insult to the harm he caused the policemen he attacked and the Greek justice system as a whole," he told MailOnline.

"Maguire claims that he feared he was being kidnapped yet his response is to run away and call his agent, leaving behind his fiancé, brothers and sister and childhood friends. Even if you accepted this as true, which I don't, these are not the actions of an honourable man.

"If I was his fiancé or any of the others in the group, I would be very angry with him for leaving them behind and would want him to do some explaining."

Mr Paradissis called for Mr Maguire to apologise for his behaviour.

"Where is our apology for his behaviour? Three policemen were injured and had to be treated at hospital," he said.

"A rich man came to Mykonos and thought that he could behave how he wants. He then goes on an international television channel to justify his actions and there is not a single sorry to us in anything he says."

Harry Maguire leaves a courthouse on the Greek island of Syros
AFP via Getty Images

Mr Maguire was handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery.

His lawyers have officially lodged an appeal against his convictions, which have now been declared void until a retrial is heard.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Maguire said: "I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, put our hands in the air. And then they just started hitting us.

"They were hitting my legs, saying my careers is over: ‘no more football, you won’t play again’.

"At this point I thought there was no chance these are police… so I tried to run away. I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life."

Asked if he would apologise, Mr Maguire said: "I don’t feel like I owe an apology to anybody. An apology is something when you’ve done something wrong."

Describing his time behind bars, he said: “It was horrible. It’s not something I ever want to do again. I don’t wish it on anybody. It’s the first time I’ve ever been inside a prison."

Mr Maguire, who broke down during the interview, said hearing the guilty verdict was "horrible" and he "couldn't quite believe it".

He denied throwing any punches or attempting to bribe police.

On the retrial, Mr Maguire said: "I have great faith in the Greek law.

"The retrial will give us more time to prepare, gather the evidence, allow witnesses into court, and I’m really confident that the truth will be told and come out."

The football star has been publicly backed by his family and friends.

His younger sister, Daisy, who was with him when he was arrested, tweeted: "Family is everything."

Brother Joe re-tweeted a BBC article posted by Love Island star Chris Hughes with the comment: "The Truth."

Cricketer Michael Vaughan wrote: "Harry Maguire needs looking after... one of the good guys... anyone who has just watched his interview you can clearly see someone who has been set up in Greece!!"

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