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Eric Joyce denies being drunk at parliamentary bar Eric Joyce denies being drunk at parliamentary bar
(7 months later)
The MP arrested after an alleged brawl in a parliamentary bar denied he was drunk at the time and hit out at false claims he was an alcoholic or suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.The MP arrested after an alleged brawl in a parliamentary bar denied he was drunk at the time and hit out at false claims he was an alcoholic or suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
Eric Joyce insisted he had consumed "by any standards a very modest amount" and an examination by a nurse found him fit for a police interview and he had not needed to "sleep it off".Eric Joyce insisted he had consumed "by any standards a very modest amount" and an examination by a nurse found him fit for a police interview and he had not needed to "sleep it off".
And, amid calls for him to quit after the second such incident in recent years, he defended his "diligence" as the independent constituency MP for Falkirk.And, amid calls for him to quit after the second such incident in recent years, he defended his "diligence" as the independent constituency MP for Falkirk.
Mr Joyce resigned from the Labour Party last year after being fined and handed a three-month pub and bar ban for punching and head-butting fellow MPs.Mr Joyce resigned from the Labour Party last year after being fined and handed a three-month pub and bar ban for punching and head-butting fellow MPs.
He was arrested on suspicion of assault on Thursday after an altercation at the Sports and Social Club, apparently over taking a glass out to a smoking area.He was arrested on suspicion of assault on Thursday after an altercation at the Sports and Social Club, apparently over taking a glass out to a smoking area.
The former soldier, who also said claims that he was suffered from post traumatic stress disorder were "ridiculous" was released on bail on Friday.The former soldier, who also said claims that he was suffered from post traumatic stress disorder were "ridiculous" was released on bail on Friday.
In a posting on his website, which he flagged up on Twitter on Saturday evening, the MP said he was limited in his responses to reports about him as he wanted to "respect the police inquiry".In a posting on his website, which he flagged up on Twitter on Saturday evening, the MP said he was limited in his responses to reports about him as he wanted to "respect the police inquiry".
But in a series of points he sought to correct what he said were false reports about his health and general behaviour.But in a series of points he sought to correct what he said were false reports about his health and general behaviour.
"I am not, and never have been, an alcoholic," he wrote."I am not, and never have been, an alcoholic," he wrote.
"I did, briefly, go through an unhappy period where I drank heavily. That ended 12 months ago, overnight, with the dreadful incident in Strangers for which I still feel genuine remorse in respect of those affected."I did, briefly, go through an unhappy period where I drank heavily. That ended 12 months ago, overnight, with the dreadful incident in Strangers for which I still feel genuine remorse in respect of those affected.
"I have spent the past 12 months making a concerted effort to address the causes of that incident. I do not go into bars, nor drink in my office. Nor do I inject alcohol right into my eyeballs while crying."I have spent the past 12 months making a concerted effort to address the causes of that incident. I do not go into bars, nor drink in my office. Nor do I inject alcohol right into my eyeballs while crying.
"I was not drunk last Thursday. I had consumed, by any standards, a very modest amount of alcohol."I was not drunk last Thursday. I had consumed, by any standards, a very modest amount of alcohol.
"I was examined by a nurse after being arrested. I was pronounced fit for interview. I did not need to 'sleep it off'.""I was examined by a nurse after being arrested. I was pronounced fit for interview. I did not need to 'sleep it off'."
He said that while he had separated from his wife seven years ago they were on excellent terms and he was not ''broken, tortured and lonely or tormented".He said that while he had separated from his wife seven years ago they were on excellent terms and he was not ''broken, tortured and lonely or tormented".
He added that reports that he had been barred from buying drinks within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster were fuelling misreports about the amount he drank and his general behaviour.He added that reports that he had been barred from buying drinks within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster were fuelling misreports about the amount he drank and his general behaviour.
"I visited the Sports and Social Bar because it had been just over one year since last year's terrible incident elsewhere. In retrospect, this does not seem to have been a good call. I will clearly not be doing so again and it takes neither the brains of an archbishop nor the edict of an official to achieve that end," he wrote."I visited the Sports and Social Bar because it had been just over one year since last year's terrible incident elsewhere. In retrospect, this does not seem to have been a good call. I will clearly not be doing so again and it takes neither the brains of an archbishop nor the edict of an official to achieve that end," he wrote.
Suggestions that he had been seen earlier in the day looking "glassy-eyed" coming out of a pub were also wrong. Instead he had been returning from a doctor's appointment.Suggestions that he had been seen earlier in the day looking "glassy-eyed" coming out of a pub were also wrong. Instead he had been returning from a doctor's appointment.
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