HARRY Maguire has today said “the truth can’t be hidden” after he was found guilty of bribery and aggravated assault over the Mykonos brawl.
The £85million Man Utd captain, 27, avoided jail and being hit with a fine as he was convicted of all charges in a Greek court.
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Harry Maguire reportedly brawled with Brits after his sister Daisy was injectedCredit: Instagram
The footballer’s trial has finished
Joe Maguire, centre with Harry right and brother Laurence left, has also been charged
Ashden Morley with Harry Maguire’s dad, Alan Maguire, (white shirt) leaving the Syros town HallCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun
Maguire posted this after he was found guilty
Maguire claimed HE was the victim after the conviction and he has since been pulled from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark, manager Gareth Southgate announced last night.
And in the early hours of this morning, the star posted on Instagram: “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth – Buddha.”
His sister Daisy uploaded the same message just hours after the verdict.
Maguire yesterday confirmed he would be appealing his conviction in a fiery statement branding himself and his family “the victims”.
He commented: “Following the hearing, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing.
“I remain strong + confident regarding our innocence in this matter – if anything myself, family + friends are the victims.” #MUFC”.
What we know so far:
Maguire’s protestations were completely dismissed by a lawyer for two of the six policemen involved in the case who called the defender a “disgrace” and accused him of “inventing a pack of lies”.
Ioannis Paradissis told MailOnline: “Maguire and his friends then invented a story about Albanians attacking his sister.
“I’ve never heard such rubbish. This was a shameful attempt to cover up their disgusting behaviour and an insult to Albanians and the Greek police.
“He should hang his head in shame and return to Greece to apologise.”
The verdict will no doubt plunge Maguire’s club career into chaos and could see him stripped of his captaincy at Man Utd.
It could have massively harmed his England career as Gareth Southgate dropped him from the international squad for the upcoming Nations League games just hours after initially naming him in it.
The strict gaffer had warned centre-back Maguire’s place could be dropped “if facts or information changes”.
Man Utd statement in full
Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court.
Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.
It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.
On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date.
The trial went ahead in the absence of all three defendants yesterday despite repeated pleas to postpone it.
Maguire was handed a 21-month and ten-day suspended sentence for three years as it was his first offence.
His brother Joe and pal Chris Sharman, who stood trial alongside him, were given suspended sentences of 13 months after also being found guilty.
Daisy Maguire posted this message on her Instagram hours after the verdict
Alan Maguire, Harry and Joe’s father, and family friend Ashden Morley seen inside the Greek courtCredit: The Mega Agency
Chris Sharman, left, with Joe, right and Laurence Maguire, centre, is also going on trial
Dad Alan leaves the court in Syros yesterdayCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun
The verdicts come after a bombshell one-day trial heard how the brawl between cops and the trio erupted when Maguire’s sister Daisy was “injected with a rape drug”.
One cop required first aid when handcuffed Maguire attempted to break free – as another pal yelled “f**k, f**k the police”.
After they were taken inside a police station, £190,000-a-week Maguire boasted about how “rich” he was as he tried to pay police off, it was said.
He bragged: “Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go”.
Maguire is then said to have continued boasting about how “very rich” he is, adding: “I am the captain of Manchester United”.
Ashden Morley arrives at court to give evidenceCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun
The court was also told how Daisy was approached by two mysterious Albanians in Mykonos as her brother and a group of pals went to get burgers after a night out boozing.
But Maguire’s fiancee Fern Hawkins soon realised her eyes were “rolling into the back of her head” – with the Albanians then fleeing, it was claimed.
Giving evidence at the Utd captain’s trial in Syros, friend Ashden Morley said: “We held Daisy. Daisy began to start fitting. All the girls were screaming.
“People were coming down asking what happened, there was a large commotion.”
At this point, a minibus Maguire had booked showed up so the panicked group piled on and told the driver they wanted to go to a hospital, it was said.
Harry Maguire pictured with his partner Fern Hawkins in Mykonos in an Instagram post before the chaos
But Mr Morley said they realised two cars were behind them “following our every movement” before the vehicle pulled up in a courtyard.
He added: “Our bus door opened and five or six males tried to force us off the bus by physically pulling us.”
The quantity surveyor, 28, told the court how they all feared they would be kidnapped and “held at ransom” as they were beaten with batons and kicked and stamped on by undercover cops.
One officer then allegedly kicked Maguire on the leg and told him: “Your career is over”.
As the girls were “in hysterics crying their eyes out”, the England star, 27, was arrested along with brother Joe and pal Chris Sharman.
The claims were made yesterday as the trial kicked off in explosive fashion.
Harry’s dad Alan is in court in Syros Credit: Nick Obank – The Sun
Maguire and his co-defendants leave court on SaturdayCredit: EPA
Maguire’s top human rights lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis earlier tried three times to postpone the case but the judge dismissed his protests.
Once it finally got underway, he told the trial how the defender was “attacked by an Albanian group”.
He also denied the group would say “f**k Greece” – claiming “they love the country and are keen on the ancient Greek culture”.
It was then claimed there is video shot from outside Mykonos police station showing how the police “mistreated” them.
The footage also shows them in a state of “extreme agony”, Mr Anagnostakis said.
The lawyer added: “My clients did not beat anyone, accost anyone, or injure anyone.”
Dad Alan travelled to the court on the Greek island of Syros to support his sons.
But none of the defendants – including Maguire – were in court when the verdict was given.
Daisy Maguire has returned to Britain Credit: Splash News
She was reportedly stabbed in the arm Credit: Splash News
Laurence Maguire pictured at home Credit: �AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media
They had been partying in a swanky nightclub in Mykonos when sister Daisy was approached by a group of Albanian men.
It was previously alleged she was stabbed in the arm with a metal straw when she spurned the advances of the “gangster types”.
The jab drew blood – with big brother Harry stepping in to defend her when a fight broke out.
A source said: “Harry saw what was happening and remonstrated with them and things got heated.
Daisy had posted a video of the star hours before the drama at Bonbonniere bar
It was uploaded 18 hours before the bust-up
“He decided to try to get out of there and wanted to hail a taxi. But he ended up arguing with some undercover police officers and ended up at the local police station.”
The brawl came after a marathon drinking session costing £63,000 over three days.
Exclusive video obtained by The Sun earlier showed him partying with team-mates Lingard, 27, and Brandon Williams, 19.
Others there included Love Island star Chris Hughes, 27, snooker ace Judd Trump, 31, and Lottie Moss, 22, the sister of supermodel Kate.
Sheffield-born Maguire became the world’s most expensive defender when he signed for Utd from Leicester City for £85million in August last year.
He was named captain in January this year following Ashley Young’s departure to Inter Milan.
He is next due to play at Old Trafford for their first game of the season on September 19 against Crystal Palace.
Maguire joined Utd for a staggering £85million
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
