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Kerry student escapes criminal conviction for harassing ex-footballer Ian Wright Patrick O’Brien admitted sending the former footballer messages that were grossly offensive, obscene and menacing. By Press Association Wednesday 3 Feb 2021, 1:42 PM Feb 3rd 2021, 1:42 PM 34,163 Views 0 Comments Patrick O'Brien (right) covers up as he leaves Tralee District Court. Image: PA Image: PA AN IRISH TEENAGER who admitted to harassing footballer Ian W...

Southern Editor Former England footballer Ian Wright has said he is "disappointed" and "tired" after an 18-year-old Kerry student was spared a criminal conviction for sending racist messages to him last year. Judge David Waters this afternoon decided to apply the provisions of the Probation Act in the case against Patrick O'Brien, of Sycamore Court, Ashleigh Downs, in Tralee. It means the case against Mr O'Brien has been proven, but no conviction will be recorded against him. Mr O'Brien had pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Wright and to sending him messages by phone that were obscene and men...

18-year-old Patrick O’Brien of Sycamore Court, Ashleigh Downs, Tralee had pleaded guilty to two charges. At Tralee District Court, Judge David Waters said that he didn’t see that anything could be gained by imposing a criminal conviction on Patrick O’Brien who had sent the abusive messages on Instagram to the former England and Arsenal footballer, Ian Wright. Ian Wright had forgiven the teenager but said he was not expecting his forgiveness to be an invitation to lighten a sentence. He said the case was never about revenge, it was about consequences for acts of racism. TAGS

Updated: February 3, 2021, 3:47 pm Patrick O’Brien arrives at Tralee District Court (Niall Carson/PA) Sign up for our daily newsletter featuring the top stories from The Press and Journal. Thank you for signing up to The Press and Journal newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up An Irish teenager who admitted racially abusing football pundit Ian Wright has escaped a criminal conviction. Patrick O’Brien, of Sycamore Court, Ashleigh Downs, Tralee, abused the former England striker in private messages on Instagram last May after he lost a Fifa game on PlaySta...

Share '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.'    The horrific abuse included a string of racial insults and in one message, he wrote: 'You're like a 65 year old. If I get corona I will cough in your face and give you your death sentence. If I see you I will put you on your death bed.' The 18-year-old later wrote Wright a full apology which the footballer ...