MP Paul Farrelly: Violence in House of Commons was self-defence
NEWCASTLE MP Paul Farrelly has rubbished claims that he launched an unprovoked attack on a man in the Houses of Parliament.
Mr Farrelly was involved in a tussle with a newspaper vendor at Parliament's Sports and Social Club. But the Labour MP claims that he was acting in self-defence.
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The other man has been named as Bjorn Hurrell, aged 46, who delivers newspapers in the Palace of Westminster.
Mr Farrelly claims he defended himself after confronting the man about his "aggressive" behaviour.
He said: "I was just taking some guests to the Sports and Social Club. When we got inside, there was this man, who I didn't know, who was being aggressive and pushing people around.
"I went and had a word with him about his behaviour, but that didn't go down well."
Mr Farrelly, who was elected MP for Newcastle in 2001, said the violence happened later in a corridor.
He said:"I defended myself. I got him to the ground and restrained him with his arms behind his back. Some people then came and took him back inside."
Mr Farrelly said he had not been contacted by the police about the incident, which happened at about 10pm on Thursday.
Yesterday the Sunday Times reported that Mr Hurrell had just returned to the bar in Parliament after serving a four-month ban for being involved in another scuffle earlier this year.
Councillor Eddie Boden, leader of the Labour group on Newcastle Borough Council and an old friend of Mr Farrelly's, said: "He has told me he was acting in self-defence and I believe him 100 per cent."
The Sentinel was unable to contact Mr Hurrell for a comment. Scotland Yard confirmed no complaint had been made about Mr Farrelly.
9 Comments
by Lazarus, North Staffs
Monday, November 08 2010, 10:21PM
“so hes out on the raz with his mates and a newpaper seller gets an earful of the little man being big, and his guests get impressed and later he assaults the bloke in a corrider and gets this bloke down on the ground, well he has I admit done a few tackles in the past well tumbles. Going fine so far, the thing is I dont believe it its simple if the guys bigger than a hobbit hes punching way over his weight and thats if ever he got out of a wet paper bag. Yep wimpo.
And during all this as security at Westminster been suspended as part of the Tory cuts, and surel;y someone must have got it on u tube by now if it was true?????”
by Newcastle Resident, Staffs
Monday, November 08 2010, 8:06PM
“Casual Observer - no I wasn't there and thats why I am not pretending to know the truth about what happened. I'm simply asking how Steve can make such statements if he wasn't their either.”
by Ron, Newcastle
Monday, November 08 2010, 5:57PM
“Sounds just like the character I knew at Wolstanton Grammar from 1972 to 1980.”
by Steven, Chesterton
Monday, November 08 2010, 4:51PM
“Lets see about his history, lies to the people who voted for him, biggest claimer of expenses, says he will vote for a thing and then votes against supports the war. Why should we believe a man who lies for a living???”
by D STOKES, STOKE
Monday, November 08 2010, 4:46PM
“Can our MPs sink any lower?
This is not new for the Labour (thugs) party,remember fat man Prescott?
Expenses, lies and thuggery comes easy to this lot.”
by Casual Observer, Everywhere
Monday, November 08 2010, 4:13PM
“Newcastle Resident - were you there?”
by Newcastle Resident, Staffs
Monday, November 08 2010, 3:17PM
“No.... thought not.”
by Newcastle Resident, Staffs
Monday, November 08 2010, 1:36PM
“Were you there Steve?”
by Steve, Chesterton
Monday, November 08 2010, 11:45AM
“Yeh right Mr Farrelly it was self defence...Why did you wrestle him to the floor why did you punch him and why did others have to hold you back from going in for some more??? You were drunk and up for a fight”