Court told PSNI receive 'daily' race hate reports

Image source, PA

  • Author, Sara Girvin
  • Role, Ireland Correspondent

A court has been told that police in Northern Ireland are receiving reports of race hate incidents "daily".

The claims were heard as a man charged in connection with riots in Belfast earlier this month was denied bail.

Paul McCallister, 26, of City Way in Belfast is charged with rioting and encouraging and assisting others to riot on 3 August.

The charges followed serious public disorder in Belfast and other parts of the UK linked to anti-immigration protests earlier this month.

Objecting to bail, a police officer told the court McCallister had been observed on CCTV throwing a bottle towards a passing bus and speaking to masked youths who were seen afterwards attacking a caf茅.

The officer told the court that while public disorder may have calmed, police are still "receiving daily reports of hate incidents" in which properties and individuals are being attacked.

The PSNI officer said that during the disorder, three Belfast businesses had been destroyed, and that one had apartments above it which saw 42 people evacuated.

It was heard that police also believe there is a risk of McCallister offending further.

The court was told he has no criminal record but had received a fixed penalty notice for disorderly behaviour.

Defence counsel said father-of-one McCallister had "serious mental health problems" and was on medication for depression.

She said: "He presents as a vulnerable male, as many of the males do involved in these riots."

She said her client did not accept throwing a bottle towards a bus and claimed he had been "littering".

She added that he did not know anything about the riots but accepts he was in the area at the time.

Denying bail, a judge said: "These incidents may have settled but they are very serious and they could start up again like that with people out on the streets."