Colin
Whether ‘active participant’ or ‘curious observer’, anybody involved in disorder will be locked up, Belfast court is told
A judge has warned that anybody present at a riot will be remanded in custody, even if they were only a “curious observer”.
District Judge Francis Rafferty said that someone’s presence at a riot made them involved in the riot as he refused two bail applications.
The judge spoke as four men appeared in Belfast magistrates’ court charged in relation to disorder in the city.
2 tiered policing with unjustice system weaponized agsinst iys own citizens nevervends well. https://t.co/PFcHFjZL5I pic.twitter.com/ceNKMmHdII
— Colin Hamilton (@bugouttv) August 12, 2024
Cameron Armstrong, 18, from Belfast, was charged with rioting in the Connswater area of east Belfast, which saw “violent disorder, petrol bombs, fireworks and different projectiles thrown at police and extensive damage caused to property”, the court heard.
‘Periphery of the scene’
Armstrong’s solicitor said that his client had never come to the attention of the police before, adding that while he admitted he was on the “periphery” of the scene, he denied being involved in any of the disorder.
When asked by the judge what he was doing at the scene, the defence solicitor told the court that Armstrong had gone to the area “to have a look”, adding that he had left when petrol bombs were thrown.
Judge Rafferty said: “He doesn’t have to throw a petrol bomb or brick to be involved in disorder, if he’s present at disorder.”
Remanded into custody
Refusing bail, the judge said: “Anybody involving themselves in this type of behaviour, this type of disorder, as an active participant or a curious observer can expect to be, save for the most exceptional circumstances, remanded into custody, and this defendant is remanded into custody.”
Colin Moneypenny, 33, from Belfast, is accused of throwing a petrol bomb with the intention to cause damage to police property, causing criminal damage to a police vehicle, resisting police, rioting and possession of a petrol bomb on Aug 8.
A defence barrister told the court that Moneypenny was in the area with friends and went to the demonstration to “spectate”, adding: “He very fiercely denies that he was involved in any way.”
‘Rolling a very large boulder up a very steep hill’
The barrister said he was aware that making a bail application for Moneypenny, who has a short criminal record and a learning disability, was like “rolling a very large boulder up a very steep hill”.
Judge Rafferty said: “As I’ve already indicated to other applicants, even presence at the scene of these disturbances is enough at this stage. I’ve no confidence that the applicant’s behaviour could be properly and sufficiently monitored.
“In the circumstances he’ll be remanded into custody.”
Two other men, Paul McCaughey, 32, and George Main, 25, both from Belfast, were charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs at police.
Neither applied for bail and both will appear again next month.
