Steve Archibald goes public-re violence on daughter
Baldoni
By Richard Osley
Published: 08 April 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article2432455.ece
When Emma Archibald was attacked in the street by EastEnders actor Mohammed
George, she put it down to drunken bickering with her boyfriend - a row that
had escalated over something as mundane as who should empty the dishwasher.
George was arrested in December after an incident outside a restaurant in
Camden, north London, in which Ms Archibald, 26, was reportedly punched and
left on the ground with a bag of rubbish tipped over her. She did not press
charges, but the police persevered with the case and when George pleaded
guilty to the assault last month he was given a caution and suspended by the
BBC for two months.
But now her father, Steve Archibald, the former Spurs, Barcelona and
Scotland footballer, has made it plain what he thought of that explanation
with a very public appeal for his daughter to come to her senses and end the
abusive relationship.
Rather than give his advice behind closed doors, Mr Archibald, 50, used a
newspaper interview to reach out to her, claiming his guidance was being
ignored.
He said: "She's in denial. It's a classic case of domestic abuse. I can't do
nothing, just go along with this horrid situation, sitting at home waiting
for the phone call that tells me she is in hospital, or worse."
Mr Archibald, now living and working in Spain, said he had begun working
with a charity that helps abused women after learning about his daughter's
lifestyle.
He added that he had gone further by writing directly to BBC director
general Mark Thompson to question why George, 24, had been allow to continue
in his role in the soap as binman Gus Smith.
The BBC last night declined to comment on how Mr Thompson had responded to
his letter.
Mr Archibald said: "The point of speaking out is not to harm George, his
career, or even his relationship with his daughter. Emma's safety,
well-being and future is my prime concern."
George's punishment, added Mr Archibald, was just a "slap on the wrist" and
he feared the incident was not isolated. He said that his family had kept a
diary of every time his daughter had appeared injured, and added: "She's
told me herself how he has dragged her across the room by her hair."
He said he knew that going public with his appeal could backfire and ruin
his relationship with his daughter but added: "If I don't speak out, I would
never forgive myself if something did happen to her."
The couple, who have a two-year-old daughter, Olivia, have played down the
incident. George has denied the claims and Ms Archibald has steadfastly
rejected claims that she has been bullied by the actor.
George, whose representatives were unavailable for comment yesterday, said
on his BBC webpage: "I know that when I'm out, I'm public property, so it's
important to be a role model."
--
The Brockton Blockbuster
49 - 0
YID ARMY
"Baldoni" <amalfi.org> wrote in message
news:46193f1b$0$9262$8826...@news.teranews.com...
Baldoni
YID ARMY <yi...@thfc.co.uk> typed:
| Very Sad.
Quite, and being a public figure Archibald is in a difficult situation.
This sort of thing is all to common, I myself have been surprised by some
blokes who feel the need to tell all and sundry that they gave their wives
and girlfriends a crack upside the head. It is hard to fathom out from the
women's point of view as to why they stay with these scumbags,.
I was out with my mates once and stopped this guy dragging his wife by the
hair along the ground, he would not fuck of so one of my mates dropped him
and then he run off. The wife was in hysterics as she told us we should not
have got involved as she was know to scared to go home as he would really
kick shit out of her.
A mate of mine jumped in on the Warwick Rd in Earls Court where a guy was
beating his missus up in broad daylight. The wife and the husband rounded
on him and he had to seek refuge in a corner shop. I know we should not get
involved in domestic problems but if that shit happened to one of my
daughters or sister of mine I would explode.
I bet you was called out to a lot of this sort of thing when you was on the
force ? I always likes Archibald may he get a result from this.
Count Baldoni
YID ARMY
Always hated Domestics.
Hardest thing in the world to maintain an air of impatiality when all you
want to do is kick 7 bells out of the shitbag.
You wouldn't believe the sorts of people who hit their wives. Outwardly
respectable businesmen, Ministers etc.
Scum of the earth all of them.
The worst and most frustrating thing was that after an hour or two, the wife
would invariably change her mind and want him back. Victims who are stuck in
an ongoing situation that they can't break free from.
