Maggie Hughes backs Justice Across Borders campaign (From Sutton Guardian)

Mother of former Sutton United and Croydon Athletic footballer Maggie Hughes backs new campaign

2:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By James Pepper

A campaigner whose son was nearly killed following an attack in Greece is fronting a new campaign to get justice for others abroad.

Maggie Hughes, from Wallington, was at the House of Commons last week as guest speaker at the launch of a new campaign Justice Across Borders.

The group are campaigning against plans by the government to pull out of aspects of European cross-border policing and crime measures.

Among the measures under threat is the European arrest warrant, which was vital in bringing her son Robbie's attackers - four British holidaymakers - to justice in Greece.

Ms Hughes, said: "I was asked to speak and I was honoured to do so. I have been contacted by many people with a similar story to my own, that tells me that the problem is not getting any better. You don't stop being British when you cross into another country, so this country needs to help us when things happen, like what happened to Robbie."

Ex-Croydon Athletic and Sutton United footballer Robbie Hughes was attacked by four men on holiday in 2008.

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington said: "I will be backing Maggie all the way. Europe has its faults, but without the European Arrest Warrant, agreed at a European level, justice would probably never have been done in the Robbie Hughes' case."

Thais Portilho-Shrimpton, director of Justice Across Borders, said: "As somebody who has a relative who was a victim of crime abroad, Maggie understands better than most people the need for this vital cooperation between the UK and other European Union member states."