Joey Barton refused bail after 'golf club attack'

Former footballer Joey Barton has been remanded in custody after being charged with an assault which a court heard could result in a man "losing sight in one eye".

Barton, 43, and 50-year-old Gary O'Grady are jointly charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent on former non-league football manager Kevin Lynch, 51.

Merseyside Police were called to Huyton and Prescot Golf Club shortly after 21:00 GMT on Sunday to reports of a man being assaulted.

Barton was denied bail at Liverpool Magistrates' Court while O'Grady was released on the condition that he does not enter the golf club or contact either the alleged victim or a named witness.

Chelsea Kearns, prosecuting, told the court Lynch was being treated in hospital and may suffer "irreversible" injuries to his eyesight.

The court heard both Barton, originally from Huyton, Knowsley, but living in Widnes, Cheshire, and O'Grady, from Seel Road, Huyton, "vehemently deny" the charge.

Neither defendant was asked to enter a plea.

Barton, who appeared in the dock wearing a blue jumper, black-framed glasses and grey sweatpants, did not visibly react as he was remanded in custody by District Judge James Hatton.

Both men are next due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 7 April for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

At a separate High Court hearing earlier over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing ex-England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had "received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool" shortly before the hearing.

De Wilde told the court that Barton "was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody".

Midfielder Barton played for clubs including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Rangers.

After retiring as a player in 2017, he moved into management.