Joey Barton's Anthony Walker murder comments 'lack sensitivity'

Anthony's mother founded The Anthony Walker Foundation to combat racism after her son's murder

Ex-footballer Joey Barton has been accused of "lacking in any sensitivity" by describing the racist murder of teenager Anthony Walker as a "scrap".

His brother Michael Barton was 17 when he was jailed for life alongside his cousin Paul Taylor in the 2005 killing of the 18-year-old with an ice axe.

In a podcast clip Barton blamed Taylor and said his brother lost 17 years of his life due to Taylor's actions.

The Anthony Walker Foundation said his comments were "factually incorrect".

Barton said Taylor "thought it'd be a fantastic idea when you were having a scrap to pull an ice axe out and swing it into somebody and it stuck in his head".

Anthony's mother, Gee Walker, founded the Anthony Walker Foundation to combat racism and has devoted her life to tackling prejudice.

The charity said the excerpt, from the podcast by James English, was "factually incorrect" and "lacking in any sensitivity given the serious nature of the incident, in which Anthony Walker tragically lost his life to a violent racially motivated attack".

In a podcast clip Joey Barton said his brother lost 17 years of his life due to someone else's actions

Chief executive officer, Kaushik Mistry, said: "This year is the eighteenth anniversary of Anthony's murder, so we express our hope that Mr Barton will reflect on the impact of his words and the profound significance of the actions of his brother as he walks the street a free man.

"It is worth noting that Michael Barton did not lose 17 years of his life, the only life lost that day was Anthony's and not for 17 years, but forever.

"It saddens us that someone with his reach and status would seem to trivialize the incident that led to such an outcome and heap further pain and suffering upon the family and friends of Anthony."

Michael Barton was 17 when he was jailed for life for his part in the murder of Anthony Walker

After the murder Barton and Taylor went on the run and Joey Barton appealed for their return.

The pair had racially abused the teenager at a bus stop before they ambushed him near McGoldrick Park in Huyton, Merseyside, in July 2005.

Michael Barton had denied killing Anthony but was found guilty of murder. Taylor had admitted his part in the killing.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]