Harry Maguire accused of 'fantasy tales' by Greek prosecution lawyer

The Greek prosecution lawyer at the centre of the Harry Maguire case has criticised what he described as the footballer’s “fantasy tales” after the Manchester United captain spoke of fearing for his life following a violent brawl and his arrest on Mykonos.

Days after he was found guilty of aggravated assault, verbal abuse, resisting arrest and attempted bribery, Maguire told the BBC he had been “scared for my life” and afraid he was being kidnapped when detained by undercover policemen on the Aegean island last week.

Related: Harry Maguire says he was 'scared for his life' in first interview since arrest

Reacting to the interview on Friday, Ioannis Paradissis said he was “appalled” by the 27-year-old’s “arrogant” refusal to apologise, labelling his claims as absurd.

“He should really stay silent, not twist the truth and come up with fantasy tales,” Paradissis told the Guardian from Syros, the neighbouring Aegean island where the court hearing was held on Tuesday. “The court convicted him on all counts and that is because there was overriding evidence. There were six witnesses who gave exactly the same account of the events that evening. I find it very sad that Maguire continues not to acknowledge that people, police officers, were the victims of violence as a result of [his] actions. Violence can never be justified but he and Manchester United seem to be doing just that.”

Maguire, who has appealed and said he “did nothing wrong”, said he and his two co-defendants, including his footballer brother Joe, lamented the lack of time they were given to prepare for the trial. But Paradissis took issue saying: “Their lawyer requested a three-day adjournment which he was granted to prepare the case. They all knew what the charges were. It is totally wrong to say they didn’t.”

The lawyer also disputed Maguire’s version of events saying the driver of a minibus he and his friends had employed on the island, where they were holidaying, was told to drive straight to the local police station, where he was met by officers after the fracas. “The driver did not, as he claimed, park on the side of the road, nor was Maguire thrown off the bus. It went, as instructed by the police who had intervened [in the brawl], straight to the police station. So why would he be afraid of being kidnapped by people in uniform who identified themselves as officers?”

Contrary to Manchester United’s assertion that the verdict had been in effect quashed by the appeal process, Paradissis said under Greek law it had only been suspended until a retrial in the form of an appeal takes place in the next “one to two years”. “He remains a convicted person under Greek law,” he said. “Nevertheless the consequences of his conviction have been stayed until the appeal.”

Maguire has admitted disappointment at Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop him from the England squad, though he does understand why the manager did so in the wake of his conviction. “Yeah I understand – obviously I’m disappointed,” he told the BBC. “I love playing for my country, I’m physically good, I’m mentally strong. Mentally I can get over this. I’m a strong lad. I’m physically and mentally ready to play [so] no, I’m disappointed. But of course I understand.”

The incident occurred on Mykonos last week, Maguire having been pictured during the day enjoying alcohol. Maguire was asked whether that had been a factor.

“I’m not going to sit here and say I didn’t have a drink all day,” he said. “I had a few drinks. Anybody who knows me, anybody who knows who has been out with me, knows how I am when I have a few drinks – I’m always aware, I always stay in control. I definitely really wasn’t drunk. I knew what was going off. I just found myself in a bad situation.”

Maguire admitted he may now decide to holiday with security. “It’s changed my mind on that – with the security it’s something I have to look into,” he said. “I don’t want to do it, I don’t want security coming away with me; I don’t feel like I should need to. But in the current climate and the situation i found myself in, would it have helped? Yeah for sure.”

Maguire has no misgivings about going to Mykonos. “I don’t see myself as regretting going out there. I’ve been before and had a great time,” he said.

It was put to Maguire that the prosecution lawyer had cast doubt this week on the claim that his sister Daisy had been approached by two men and injected with a substance that affected her. “I’m confident that something happened with Daisy,” he said. “There was a mark on her arm, she had a little stamp mark on her arm, a little you can call it a needle mark on her arm as well. So I’m 100% confident. She was fine, she wasn’t drunk. Then she finds herself going in and out of consciousness.”

There was a claim that Maguire’s sister had not mentioned this to the police. “It made me angry because not one of the police department interviewed any of our people. So I’d like to see the record of this interview because Daisy for sure didn’t get interviewed,” he said.