Judge Lynch added that after Richardson’s phone was examined, this would suggest he had “racist opinions”, despite what he told a Probation Officer to the contrary
A Crown Court judge warned that anyone who involved themselves in religious or race-related rioting “can expect an immediate custodial sentence.”
Judge Patrick Lynch KC issued the warning on Monday as he jailed a 43-year old man for a charge of encouraging or assisting a riot in South Belfast last August.
Gary Richardson from Rowland Way in Belfast was handed a 14-month sentence which Judge Lynch divided equally between prison and supervised licence.
Belfast Crown Court heard parts of the United Kingdom experienced public disorder with racial undertones following the murder of three girls and attempted murder of a further ten youngsters who attended a dance class in Stockport in July 2024.
On Saturday August 3 last year, an anti-immigrant rally was held in the centre of Belfast and following this, a crowd began making its way to the Islamic Centre on University Road.
A short time later, public disorder broke out in the Donegall Road/Sandy Row area which saw police come under attack and several businesses being targeted.
During today’s sentencing, prosecuting barrister James Johnston told Judge Lynch that Richardson did not “actively participate” in the riot by throwing anything at police lines.
What he did do, the Crown say, was call over a group of masked youths who were rioting in the Sandy Row area.
After gesturing to the group, the youths followed Richardson to a side street off Sandy Row – and after re-appearing, one of the group was carrying a tin of paint.
Saying Richardson “was taking them to somewhere where he knew such articles would be available”, Mr Johnston added “it cannot be said by the prosecution that the tin of paint was actually thrown at police.”
Richardson was arrested on August 23, 2024 and when he was in the holding cell, he was heard saying ‘the Government can fix this’ and ‘this wouldn’t have happened if the Government just stopped letting these people in.’
During an interview with police, Richardson denied the charge and said he only attended as a bystander.
Despite this, he subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of ‘doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting other persons to commit an offence, namely riot, intending to encourage or assist the commission of the offence.’
Mr Johnston also revealed that after Richardson’s mobile phone was examined, this indicated his “willingness” to be involved in a similar demonstration planned in Derry.
Defence barrister Sean Mullan said the background to the riot in Belfast was the Southport attack which led to demonstrations and protests across the UK.
Regarding the demonstration in Belfast last August, Mr Mullan said Richardson was part of an initial “peaceful” protest in the University Road area and that later on “matters did take a turn for the worst” with youths involved in disorder in the Sandy Row area.
Stressing that Richardson was not involved in throwing any missiles at police, Mr Mullan said the extent amounted to him doing an act capable of assisting or encouraging the riot.
The defence barrister said Richardson “was at pains to point out he is not a racist individual and does not hold racist views” and now realises and accepts what he did was wrong.
Mr Mullan added that his client has held down a job as a forklift driver for 20 years.
Judge Lynch said that whilst Ricardson’s offending was at “the lowest level”, the incident with the tin of paint was a “deliberate act taken by the defendant.”
He added that after Richardson’s phone was examined, this would suggest he had “racist opinions”, despite what he told a Probation Officer to the contrary.
Also noted by the Judge was Richardson’s “modest” criminal record of one prior conviction as well as a lack of issues regarding addictions or mental health.
Warning that those who involved themselves in religious or race-related riots “can expect an immediate custodial sentence”, Judge Lynch imposed the 14-month sentence.
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