Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hurt man saved by BLM hero is ex cop
Millwall fan, 55, was a detective in BTP robbery squad in 1990s
A PROTESTER who was rescued by a Black Lives Matter hero after a demonstration turned violent is a former police detective.
Battered and bruised Bryn Male, 55, was carried out of a crowd on Saturday by Patrick Hutchinson, who feared the injured man could have been killed.
It emerged last night that Male is a retired British Transport Police officer.
A spokesman for the force confirmed: “Bryn Male worked in the London area, latterly as a detective constable. He left the force in September 2014.”
A former colleague from the 1990s said he was “not surprised” to see Millwall supporter Male among the mob on Saturday in London – where many claimed they were protecting statues from anti-racism protestors.
The ex-colleague said: “He used to wear his Stone Island clothes. He was involved with Millwall at the time.”
There was no answer at Male’s detached house on the outskirts of
Basingstoke, Hants, yesterday. It is believed he moved to the modern estate with wife Karen and son Harry in 2003.
Male, who has a Millwall tattoo on his leg, is understood to have been on the robbery squad in the late 1990s in South London and worked as part of an operation that ran beside a 1995 Met Police initiative to tackle muggers.
Paul Condon, who was the Met’s Commissioner then, caused controversy by saying: “Very many of the perpetrators of muggings are very young black people.”
Now a delivery driver, Male is also vice president of a local working men’s club.
A member said yesterday: “I heard he was upset about the damage to the statues in London and wanted to protect them so he went down with a load of lads he used to go to Millwall games with.
“He’s then been set about on his way home, had his phone and chain nicked from what I’m told. But I’ve never heard him say anything racist or anything like that. There are black lads in the club.
“I think he took a real kicking too and has bruises and scratches to his face.”
Male is believed to have been injured near the Royal Festival Hall.
Our source said: “It’s shocking an ex-police officer is getting involved in demonstrations like that. I just feel it needs to be known who he was.”
Patrick, 49, slung Male over his shoulder as others formed a protective ring to allow him to be carried to safety.
He told ITV yesterday he would “not have much” to say if Male got in touch.
Meanwhile, yob Daniel Allan, 35, faces jail after he was filmed kicking a policeman in the back during the protest. Allan, of Sunderland, pleaded guilty to violent disorder yesterday at Westminster magistrates court and was remanded in custody.