West Ham’s former head of player recruitment Tony Henry has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over comments he made about African players earlier this year.

Henry was suspended by the Hammers before being sacked in February after he was accused of racism and discrimination for allegedly telling agents the Premier League club did not want to sign any more African players.

The Daily Mail reported he had said in an email that West Ham wanted to limit the number of African players because they “sometimes have a bad attitude” and “cause mayhem” when they are not in the team.

Those comments were deemed “unacceptable” by the club, while the Professional Footballers’ Association said it was “shocked” by the report, and now the FA has charged Henry.

“Tony Henry, former West Ham United FC head of player recruitment, has been charged with misconduct in relation to comments he made
which are alleged to be improper and/or insulting and/or abusive,” said an FA statement.

“It is further alleged that this breach of Rule E3(1) is an ”aggravated breach“ as defined in Rule E3(2), as it included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or nationality and/or colour. Mr Henry has until May 15, 2018 to respond to the charge.”

West Ham have six first-team squad members of African descent with Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang, Joao Mario, Angelo Ogbonna, Arthur Masuaku and Edimilson Fernandes.

Senegal striker Diafra Sakho left the club in the January transfer window to join Rennes, with Ghana international Andre Ayew heading to Swansea.

West Ham released a statement at the time of Henry’s sacking which read: “West Ham have today terminated the contract of director of player recruitment, Tony Henry, with immediate effect following his unacceptable comments that were widely reported in the press.

“Our action follows a full and thorough investigation. West Ham United will not tolerate any type of discrimination.

“The West Ham United family is an inclusive one where, regardless of gender, age, ability, race, religion or sexual orientation, everybody feels welcome and included.”

A man charged with murdering his wife on a family boating holiday allegedly subjected her to “controlling, degrading and manipulating” treatment, the High Court heard on Friday.

Prosecutors claimed Stephen McKinney had verbally abused 35-year-old Lu Na McKinney about their sex life before her death at Devenish Island on Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh last April.

A judge was also told the 41-year-old accused provided varying recollections of how his wife fell into the water while checking their mooring and after taking sleeping pills.

According to a pharmacology expert she couldn’t have functioned as described due to the “hypnotic-sedative effect” of the drugs in her system.

It was further alleged that she had once spoke about a case where another woman went missing from a cruise ship and stated that if anything should happen to her “it would be Stephen”.

McKinney, originally from Strabane but with an address at The Flax Fields in Lifford, Co Donegal, denies murder, insisting he tried in vain to rescue her.

Adjourning his application for bail, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan indicated he was minded to release the defendant if a suitable address can be found.

Mrs McKinney, a Chinese national, was initially believed to have died in a boating accident.

But based on statements from staff at the marina where the family hired the cruiser, expert witnesses, work colleagues of the deceased and telecommunications evidence, police launched a murder inquiry.

The court heard that after marrying in 2003 the couple moved between the Republic of Ireland and China, returning to Donegal in 2016.

In a statement to police McKinney said he had taught English to students online and hoped to find further work in the same field.

He described his wife as “a beautiful woman who couldn’t cook”, said they were happy together and added that she looked after the family’s finances as he had no concept of money.

According to his account they hired the boat to go on a two-night Easter break with their two children, aged 14 and 11.

He confirmed there were only two life jackets on the cruiser, used by his son and daughter, and claimed they had set off without two more being provided because of the excitement of the trip.

On the night his wife died McKinney claimed she took possibly two sleeping tablets the couple had previously purchased on the internet.

Crown lawyer Kate McKay set out how the accused told police he was later woken by Mrs McKinney standing beside him fully dressed, saying she thought the boat was moving and was going out to check the ropes.

McKinney claimed he followed his wife out onto the deck, saw her fall overboard and possibly shout for help.

He said that he immediately jumped into the Lough and managed to get hold of her.

But she couldn’t swim and was struggling, pulling him down and grabbing his necklace, the court heard.

McKinney claimed that after he lost grip of his wife she was “gone”.

He recalled pulling himself back onto the boat and using the torch function on his mobile phone to search for her before calling 999 for help.

The two children remained asleep throughout the incident, according to his statement.

However, Mrs McKay disclosed a pharmacology expert’s opinion that it would not have been possible for Mrs McKinney to function as described by her husband due to the level of drugs in her system.

“Optimum effects would leave Lu Na experiencing a hypnotic-sedative effect,” the prosecutor said.

Setting out further details of the circumstantial case against the accused, she contended:

:: Staff at the marina told McKinney to go to the office to obtain two more life jackets.

:: He allegedly refused to accept being told by his wife that she didn’t want to go on the boat trip.

:: He gave different reasons for the family trip, ranging from an Easter holiday, early wedding anniversary, surprise for the children, and celebration of a new job.

:: McKinney allegedly provided varying accounts of how his wife came to be in the water – seeing her fall in, and hearing a splash before discovering her in the Lough.

:: He had allegedly been advised to moor at a different jetty on Devenish Island.

The court also heard that mobile phones and computers seized from McKinney led to the recovery skype chats, sex videos and sexual images involving the defendant, his wife and other unknown individuals.

One chat log from 2014 included more than 1,000 entries and took place while McKinney was wither separated from or loving away from his family, Mrs McKay said.

She claimed they depicted him as being verbally abusive towards his wife about their sex life, blaming her for their separation and then encouraging her to take part in activities.

“This is eventually agreed by Lu Na, saying she will change and do whatever McKinney wishes if he will come back to the family,” the barrister continued.

“From reading the entirety of this chat it can be said that McKinney is displaying controlling, degrading treatment toward Lu Na, and manipulating Lu Na to the extent that regardless how she answers or agrees to McKinney’s request the goalposts are continually moved.”

Defence counsel Martin McCann countered that witness evidence against his client involved “second or third-hand hearsay”.

He insisted: “The situation, as described by Mr McKinney to the emergency services and ultimately to the police is that this was an accident.

“He attempted to save his wife’s life and he failed.”

Disputing that a prima facie circumstantial case had been established against his client, Mr McCann added: “The circumstances appear to consist of rumour and innuendo.”

But with detectives still to speak to the accused’s children, Sir Declan confirmed McKinney will not be allowed out of custody to live close to them.

Adjourning the case, he said: “I’m minded in principle to releasing this man on bail when a suitable bail address has been found.”

Belfast Telegraph Digital

A 29-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday charged in connection with images — including one of a snowman holding a rocket launcher — displayed at a dissident republican office in Londonderry.

Patrick Joseph Barr is accused of displaying or allowing to be displayed offensive posters in the front window of a building occupied by the group known as Saoradh in Chamberlain Street in the city last year.

Barr from Sackville Street denied the offences.

He is charged that on October 5, 2017, at Chamberlain Street, being the person responsible for the premises, he caused or permitted the display of an offensive poster containing a graphic poster depicting a male nude with a gun and literature with reference to a deceased police officer with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or by which a breach of the peace or public disorder was likely.

The defendant is further charged that on October 26 of last year, being the person responsible for the premises, he caused or permitted the display of a snowman holding a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with the message ‘Wishing you an explosive Christmas’ with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or by which a breach of the peace or public disorder was likely.

A police officer told District Judge Barney McElholm that he believed that he could connect the defendant to both of the charges.

A defence solicitor told the court that the basis of the charges was that when the defendant was stopped and searched under the Justice and Security Act, the police found on him a rates bill and a tenancy agreement for the Chamberlain Street premises.

The solicitor said the charges would be contested and the defendant was released on unconditional police bail until February 2.

The maximum sentence for the offence is a six-month jail sentence and or a fine of up to £5,000.

Belfast Telegraph Digital