Ex-footballer Joey Barton remanded in custody after golf club assault charge

At separate hearing, Barton was told to pay former England footballer Eni Aluko over £300,000 (€346,000) in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 - 17:22

Eleanor Barlow

Former footballer Joey Barton has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with an assault near a golf club.

The 43-year-old, from Widnes, Cheshire, is accused of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm along with a second man, Gary O’Grady, 50, from Huyton, Merseyside.

They appeared in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon and spoke to confirm their names, addresses, and dates of birth.

The case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where the men will appear for a plea hearing on April 7.

District Judge James Hatton told Barton, who wore a navy blue jumper, he would be remanded in custody until that hearing.

O’Grady, in a grey tracksuit, was released on conditional bail.

The men are accused of attacking Kevin Lynch at Fairway, Huyton, on Sunday.

Emergency services were called at around 9pm on Sunday after a man suffered serious injuries to his face and body near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club.

He is in a serious but stable condition in hospital, Merseyside Police said.

The two defendants and the victim all appear on England Golf lists as members of the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club,

Earlier, at a High Court hearing on Tuesday over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing former 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.

Mr de Wilde told the court on Tuesday that Barton “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.

Barton told to pay Aluko over £300,000

At Tuesday's High Court hearing, Barton was told to pay Aluko over £300,000 (€346,000) in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.

Former England footballer and pundit Ms Aluko brought legal action against Barton over two posts he made in 2024 on social media site X.

On Tuesday, the High Court heard the case had been stayed, with Barton to pay "substantial" damages and Ms Aluko's legal costs.

Mr de Wilde, for Ms Aluko, said that in the two X posts, Barton had wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and that she was a hypocrite.

The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Ms Aluko on his X account, adding that he had "carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification".

Mr de Wilde said one post included an image of Ms Aluko's head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West's body.

He continued: "The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality."

"Mr Barton's campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton's conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so," he added.

Mr de Wilde said Ms Aluko was worried that however she tried to stop the harassment, Barton "would exploit and manipulate it to use against her".

The barrister continued: "Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications."

According to a court order, Barton has been told to pay £339,000 — with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24.

Barton has also been ordered not to try to contact Ms Aluko except through lawyers, or publish "any express or implied reference" to her unless legally required.

Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order.

Ms Aluko attended the London court on Tuesday and said after the hearing: "I'm glad it's the end."

Former Manchester City and QPR midfielder Barton has one England cap and also played for Newcastle, Rangers, Burnley, and Marseille.

He hosts the podcast Common Sense With Joey Barton, which is described as an “unfiltered” look at issues in sport, society, politics, and more.