The Millwall fan hailed a national hero after taking on three knife-wielding terrorists with his bare hands was not included for a George medal – with nearly 24,000 people signing a petition calling for a re-think.
Roy Larner, who screamed “F*** you, I’m Millwall” and was stabbed eight times as jihadis armed with hunting knives tried to force their way inside the Borough Market pub he was drinking in on June 3 last year.
The 48 year old was dubbed ‘The Lion of London Bridge’, and more than 23,000 people threw their support behind a petition to get him a George Cross.
But, while others have been honoured for the part they played that tragic night, the dad of one was dismayed to find he’d been missed off this year’s Civilian Gallantry List.
“I didn’t do those things to get a medal but a thank you would’ve been nice,” he told the News early this year after finding out his name was not included.
“I’m not a perfect person but I did something good for once. I nearly lost my life because of it.”
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In a fall from grace after being hailed a national hero, a video emerged of Roy shouting racist abuse at protesters in Elephant and Castle and appearing to spit at a black photographer in February 2017.
Then, a little over a month after his heroics, he launched into a racist outburst at Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle’s office in Jamaica Road.
He later admitted racially-aggravated common assault and religiously-aggravated harassment and apologised for his actions, avoiding jail with a suspended sentence.
Roy, who had to have surgery after suffering stab wounds to his arms, hands and neck as well as a punctured lung during the attack, still suffers nightmares and flashbacks to that horrific night more than a year later.
When the News contacted the Cabinet Office it said it could not comment on individual cases when asked whether Roy had been nominated for an award and why he did not receive one.
However, Millwall’s fan on the board Micky Simpson has enlisted the help of Labour’s Lord Kennedy of Southwark, who plans to write to the Prime Minister calling for Roy and three other Lion fans caught up in the attack to be recognised for their bravery.
Speaking to the News, Micky said: “They acted in pure bravery; if they were at war when they did what they did they would have got a medal for it but for whatever reason they haven’t been recognised and that’s a real travesty.”
To view the petition to get Roy a George Cross, visit: https://www.change.org/p/award-roy-larner-the-george-cross