Latest news with #DougieJoyce
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Ex-British Prime Minister appears in promo vid for whiskey owned by infamous bare-knuckle boxer
Dougie Joyce was previously jailed for causing grievous bodily harm after assaulting a 78-year-old man inside a pub on Thomas Street, Manchester Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has defended her appearance in a bizarre promotional video for a convicted bare-knuckle fighter's Irish whiskey brand. In clips posted to Instagram, the UK's shortest-ever serving leader can be seen at a launch party waving a bottle of Dougie Joyce's Irish Whiskey while swapping his 'Dougie Joyce loves ya' phrase for 'Liz Truss loves you'. Joyce who met Ms Truss during an event at Scunthorpe FC just months after he was freed from jail, thanked her for her 'tremendous support'. 'Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion,' he declared. "I am grateful for her support and the insights she shared, which will undoubtedly inspire us all as we look to 2026 and beyond." Former Prime Minister Liz Truss with Dougie Joyce News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 Ms Truss stood by her decision to appear in the promotional video after it prompted a backlash as it emerged how Joyce had been sentenced to 19 months in jail for his attack on an OAP. A spokesperson for Ms Truss said she had 'attended the event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC', and had done so for free. Later posting on x, Truss said: "The @TheSun is trashing my attendance at the Scunthorpe United FC Stadium Weekender - an event I attended to support the town and the football club. "The journalist said: 'It doesn't make a huge amount of sense that she would go to Scunthorpe for free'. "They couldn't believe I would go there without being paid." Joyce, 36, was previously jailed for causing grievous bodily harm after assaulting an old age pensioner inside a pub on Thomas Street, Manchester. Police described him as "an aggressive and violent man who intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78 year old man by carrying out this horrendous assault". However, he has since claimed to have turned over a new leaf as he devotes himself to charity following his release from prison. The father-of-three, who once boasted he was 'the next Tyson Fury', was jailed for a second time in May 2024 after finding himself involved in a violent brawl with a rival family at a wake, according to MailOnline. He and his brother Tom, then 27, were convicted after chaos erupted in the Vine pub in Collyhurst, Manchester as members of the Joyce and Doherty family clashed in the latest episode of a long-running feud. Dougie Joyce Two members of the Doherty family were taken to hospital with 'significant injuries'. Dougie was handed a 13-month jail term, while Tom was sentenced to 22 months in prison. The boxer, who turned down a role on reality TV show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, was already serving a 19-month sentence for causing grievous bodily harm to the 78-year-old man he attacked in a pub. He previously told the Manchester Evening News (MEN) of his aspiration to change the perception of bare knuckle boxing as 'people have made it sound barbaric' "But it is really not that bad,' he insisted. 'You have got your medics, you've got your referees, everything is all done professionally. I am proud to say every show I have had, there has been not one problem, no kick off, no violence. "Everybody who comes has a good night and what we are doing is making it kid friendly too, 16 upwards, allowing them to come down and enjoy the show. We want to encourage families to come down and enjoy a great evening." According to MEN, Joyce has launched a number of businesses in addition to his whisky and boxing promoters, including bespoke furniture and activewear companies.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Liz Truss helps notorious bare-knuckle fighter launch new whiskey in bizarre promo video
Liz Truss shares a drink with a notorious bare-knuckle fighter to launch his new whiskey brand in a bizarre new promotional video. The former Prime Minister can be seen grinning alongside Dougie Joyce, a boxer who served time in prison for a 'horrendous' attack on a 78-year-old man in a pub. Addressing his followers, the boxer says his catchphrase, 'just remember Dougie Joyce loves ya', before Ms Truss echoes: 'Liz Truss loves you'. The ex-Conservative leader appeared at the event at Scunthorpe FC in May with the boxer just months after he was freed from jail. A representative for Ms Truss told The Sun: 'She attended the event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Liz Truss promotes whiskey launched by fighter once jailed for punching pensioner
Liz Truss has promoted a new Irish whiskey launched by a bare-knuckle fighter who was once jailed for punching a pensioner. The former prime minister attended the launch event for Joyce's Irish Whiskey, a brand from 36-year-old Dougie Joyce, last month and was pictured sitting next to him. She also appeared in a video with the fighter, which he shared on social media, where he handed her a bottle and said his catchphrase: 'Just remember, Dougie Joyce loves ya.' Ms Truss took the product from him and said 'Liz Truss loves you'. A source close to the former prime minister said she was not paid to attend the event at Scunthorpe United's stadium. Mr Joyce, a Traveller, was handed a 19-month jail sentence for grievous bodily harm in 2023 after he repeatedly punched a 78-year-old man in the face in a pub brawl. He was wearing a 'large gold pyramid-style ring' that caused the pensioner 'significant injury', according to Greater Manchester Police at the time. Detective Constable Natalie Hollows described him afterwards as 'an aggressive and violent man who intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78 year-old man'. The fighter turned businessman was later given a 13-month sentence for violent disorder following a fight at a wake involving a rival Traveller family. A spokesman for Ms Truss said she attended the event in Scunthorpe 'to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC', adding: 'I thought the Government believed in the rehabilitation of offenders.' Mr Joyce once claimed that he would be the 'next Tyson Fury', a former professional boxer also from the Traveller community, and turned down a role on the reality television programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. He shared photographs of the launch event on Instagram, and wrote: 'Her presence was a tremendous support, and she took the time to speak about the future of business and the steps we can take moving forward. 'Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion. I am grateful for her support and the insights she shared, which will undoubtedly inspire us all as we look ahead to 2026 and beyond.' A source told The Sun, which first reported the appearance, that the former prime minister 'either doesn't understand the implications or doesn't care. Either way, this is a serious lapse'. Ms Truss came under fire last February after attending the Conservative political action conference in America, when she was interviewed by Steve Bannon. She asked Donald Trump's one-time chief White House strategist whether 'once you've sorted out America, you can come over to Britain and sort us out'.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former PM Liz Truss helps notorious bare-knuckle fighter launch his new whiskey in bizarre promo video - just months after he was freed from jail
Liz Truss joined a notorious bare-knuckle fighter as he launched his new whiskey brand in a bizarre promotional video. The former Prime Minister looked in great spirits as she waved a bottle of Dougie Joyce's booze towards the camera just months after he was freed from jail. After Joyce points to the lens and says, 'just remember Dougie Joyce loves ya', Ms Truss, who led the nation for 49 days in 2022, repeats his catchphrase, saying: 'Liz Truss loves you.' The ex Conservative leader offers an awkward laugh as the traveller boxer, who attacked a 78-year-old man in a bar in 2022, adds: 'Just remember that, people, we love you all.' Ms Truss, 49, could also be seen sitting down next to Joyce for a few drinks during the launch event, which took place at Scunthorpe United's stadium last month according to a post on the fighter's Instagram. A source told The Sun that the former PM had not been paid to attend the party. 'Liz Truss either doesn't understand the implications or doesn't care,' one source said. 'Either way this is a serious lapse. 'She's a former Prime Minister and has to be extremely careful who she associates herself with. 'You have to wonder if anyone did the due diligence.' Joyce, 36, said on Instagram: 'It was a great honour to have former Prime Minister as a special guest. 'Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion.' MailOnline has approached representatives of Ms Truss for comment. Joyce claims to have turned over a new leaf, insisting he is devoting himself to charity work, after being released from prison. The father-of-three, who once boasted he was 'the next Tyson Fury', was jailed for the second time in quick succession in May 2024 after finding himself involved in a violent brawl with a rival family at a wake. He and his brother Tom, then 27, were handed the sentences for violent disorder by Manchester Crown Court after a shocking incident unfolded in the Vine pub in Collyhurst, Manchester. Chaos erupted in the pub for about half-an-hour as members of the Joyce and Doherty family clashed in the latest episode of a long-running feud. The two families had attended the establishment as part of a wake following the death of two young men who were part of the traveller community on October 2, 2020. Two members of the Doherty family were taken to hospital with 'significant injuries', one of whom Tom had struck on the head with a smashed beer bottle. Prosecutors explained how trouble began at about 5pm, as footage from the pub showed signs of conflict and verbal rows before it turned violent about 20 minutes later, with two groups of about 10 young men forming distinct groups. At one point Tom grabbed a bottle of beer inside the pub and smashed it, before wielding it and striking a member of the Doherty family to the face with it in the pub car park, the court heard. The victim could be seen 'covered in copious amounts of blood', before Tom was then assaulted by others. Dougie also smashed a bottle in the build up, but did not use it and dropped it. Instead, he armed himself with a plastic pipe and threw it at another man, prosecutor Constance Halliwell said. The injured men were bundled into a car and taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary. They refused to provide statements to police and were interviewed the following year, providing no comment to questions. Dougie was handed a 13-month jail term, while Tom was sentenced to 22 months in prison. The boxer, who turned down a role on reality TV show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, was already serving a 19-month sentence for causing grievous bodily harm after launching a sickening attack on a 78-year-old man in a pub. A shocking video of the attack showed the traveller and businessman knock the recently widowed elderly man off his chair with three savage blows, before flooring him again after he got to his feet. The injuries to the man's face were exacerbated by the large golden pyramid ring he was wearing. During his time behind bars, the thug smuggled in a phone to film himself chuckling in his cell. Ms Truss's name came up in a somewhat negative context on Thursday as Keir Starmer compared Reform leader Nigel Farage's economic plans to her infamous 2022 mini-Budget. Mr Farage has sought to woo working class Labour voters by leaning left with support for scrapping the two-child benefit cap and fully reinstating winter fuel payments. But he simultaneously backs a series of tax cuts, which left experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies saying there could be an £85billion hole in the maths. Sir Keir further questioned his ability, pointing out that Mr Farage, the Clacton MP, is currently in Las Vegas to speak at a conference promoting bitcoin. Speaking in Warrington Sir Keir said: 'Can you trust him? Can you trust him with your future? Can you trust him with your jobs? Can you trust him with your mortgages, your pensions, your bills? 'And he gave the answer on Tuesday. A resounding no.' He added: 'Apparently (Mr Farage) is in Las Vegas today at a casino, and it's not a surprise, because he said that the Liz Truss budget in his view was the best since 1986. That shows his judgment.' Over the weekend, Ms Truss appeared alongside Hungarian PM Viktor Orban at a press conference.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Former PM Liz Truss joins bare-knuckle fight thug who battered OAP to launch his whiskey – and even copies catchphrase
LAUNCH party guest of honour Liz Truss happily joined in as a thug plugged his Irish whiskey. Bare-knuckle fighter Dougie Joyce attacked a man of 78 in a bar and has links to gangsters, while Truss hopes for a political comeback. 6 6 Joyce proudly handed her a bottle of the booze for a promotional video. He said his catchphrase: 'Just remember, Dougie Joyce loves ya.' The ex-PM then held up the spirit and beamed: ' Liz Truss loves you.' Last night, a source close to guest-of-honour Truss insisted she had not been paid to appear at last month's event at non-league Scunthorpe United's stadium. But that raised further questions over her apparent lack of judgment as she is considering a comeback to frontline politics. One source said: 'Liz Truss either doesn't understand the implications or doesn't care. Either way this is a serious lapse. 'Aggressive and violent man' 'She's a former Prime Minister and has to be extremely careful who she associates herself with. 'You have to wonder if anyone did the due diligence.' Joyce, who has links to the notorious Gooch gang, was captured on CCTV attacking the widower. He was seen shouting and pointing at his victim before unleashing three vicious blows. Joyce was jailed for 19 months by Manchester crown court in November 2023. At the time, Det Con Natalie Hollows said: 'Joyce is an aggressive and violent man. Liz Truss storms off stage after lettuce banner appears behind her during speech in awkward prank 'Joyce was wearing a large gold pyramid-style ring, causing significant injury.' Joyce later used a smuggled phone to film himself laughing in his prison cell. The 36-year-old married dad of three was handed a further 13-month sentence for violent disorder following a fight at a wake involving a rival family. It was a great honour to have former Prime Minister Liz Truss as a special guest. Dougie Joyce Traveller Joyce, who once boasted he would be 'the next Tyson Fury ', is a cousin of Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty — and was involved in a 2011 fight which saw part of Paddy's ear chewed off. Joyce, of Salford, now claims to have since turned his life around and says he is doing charity work. He wrote on Instagram of his launch for Joyce's Irish Whiskey: 'It was a great honour to have former Prime Minister Liz Truss as a special guest. 6 6 6 'Having her there truly meant a lot and added a distinguished touch to the occasion.' Last night he declined to comment. A spokesman for Truss — who lasted 49 days in No10 in 2022 — said: 'She attended the event to support the people working to regenerate the town and Scunthorpe FC.' At the weekend Truss, 49, appeared at a conference in Hungary with its PM Viktor Orban, a stooge of Russia's Vladimir Putin. Last year she was accused of 'propagating conspiracy theories' during a trip to the US. And she was criticised for taking part in an interview with President Donald Trump's controversial ex-strategist Steve Bannon — remaining silent as he praised far right activist Tommy Robinson as a 'hero'.
