Blackpool teen: I haven’t lied about homophobic attack, I didn’t know I just fell over

PinkNews logo on pink background with rainbow corners.

A Blackpool teenager who was thought to be a victim of a homophobic attack has denied intentionally making it up, after police unearthed evidence that he injured himself by falling over.

Richard Kennedy, 18, initially told Lancashire Constabulary that he had been assaulted as he left the Evoke nightclub, after an LGBT-friendly night, during the early hours of Wednesday 26 February.

Earlier today the police announced that they had found evidence that he had in fact accidentally injured himself by falling over.

Kennedy said in a lengthy public Facebook post: “I haven’t lied to anyone or about anything, my genuinely held belief was due to events on the night and the state I was in.

“I put 2 and 2 together and unfortunately got 5, my lack of memory of the night which I made clear from the beginning of the investigation did not support me in any form. There is no evidence to support an attack, only to support my fall.

“For anyone who may be personally offended, hurt or damaged, I can only but apologise for these unfortunate events.”

Earlier today, Detective Inspector Paddy O’Neill said: “We managed to recover some CCTV footage which shows the injured party falling face-first onto the pavement. We have showed him the CCTV and he now accepts his injuries were caused during the fall.

“Having had oversight of the investigation since its inception and taking into account the full circumstances, I accept his report was made in good faith.”