Ian Wright has expressed disappointment after an Irish teenager who admitted racially abusing him escaped a criminal conviction.
Patrick O’Brien, of Tralee, County Kerry, abused the former Arsenal and England striker in private messages on Instagram last May after he lost a Fifa game on PlayStation.
The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to harassing Wright on 11 May, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act 1997, and sending a message by phone that was grossly offensive, obscene and menacing.
At a sentencing hearing at Tralee District Court on Wednesday, Judge David Waters said he “didn’t see anything to be gained” by imposing a criminal conviction, and handed O’Brien probation.
He noted O’Brien had shown genuine remorse for his actions, and had donated €500 (£440) to the Irish Network Against Racism out of his own volition.
The judge said the language used by O’Brien was reprehensible, but was the unthinking behaviour of a “a naive young man”. He added that O’Brien had written an apology to Wright, which was accepted by the football pundit, who forgave his abuser.
Wright wrote on Twitter: “I’ve seen today’s judgement and I’m disappointed. This case was never about revenge, it was always about consequences for acts of racism. My forgiveness of this young man was for my own deeply personal need and desire to move forward without further anguish. I’m a 57 year old man that has experienced racism throughout my life. I wasn’t expecting my forgiveness to be an invitation to lighten a sentence.
“Seeing this judgment I can only wonder what deterrent there is for anyone else who spouts this kind of vile racist abuse.
“An individual wished death upon me because of my skin colour. No judge’s claims of ‘naivety’ or ‘immaturity’ will ever be acceptable to us. The supposed immaturity and naivety of our attackers is never any comfort.
“So yeah I am disappointed. I’m tired. We are all tired.”
Judge Waters had earlier said he had received a “very positive” probation report on O’Brien, which said he had co-operated in full, made full and frank admissions of his guilt, and had been in non-stop contact with his probation officer and was very co-operative.
His family are law-abiding, decent people, his solicitor Patrick Mann told the court. Mann said O’Brien was a “very, very good boy” who was getting “great results” at school, adding that he was “still a young lad”, and asked that he be allowed to go forward “without any stain” on his record.
Also on Wednesday Southampton condemned “abhorrent” racist abuse aimed at their midfielder Alex Jankewitz on social media after the 9-0 defeat at Manchester United and said they were liaising with police. The 19-year-old was sent off inside 90 seconds of his first start and has become the latest player subjected to abuse online.
The club said it had “identified a number of posts on social media directing racial abuse” at Jankewitz and added: “Supporters who stoop to such abhorrent and archaic standards are not welcome as Southampton supporters, or anywhere else within football … The club is passing on all abusive messages to Hampshire Police and hope they are able to permanently remove those individuals from our football community.”
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