Belfast disorder: man charged with 10 offences connected to rioting

By Rebecca Black, PA

A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court in Belfast charged with rioting offences.

Jason Galbraith (26), of no fixed abode, is charged with 10 offences on the first day of serious disorder in south Belfast on August 3, after an anti-immigration protest in the city centre.

The charges include setting fire to a car, rioting, criminal damage to an electronic gate belonging to Holiday Inn and three counts of an offensive weapon with intent - masonry bricks, a wooden plank and a metal pole.

Galbraith is also charged with interfering with a traffic sign at Sandy Row and criminal damage to a car.

He indicated he understood the charges when he appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Monday.

No application for bail was made and Galbraith was remanded in custody.

Further court appearances are expected in Belfast and Downpatrick after a number of arrests across the weekend.

A 58-year-old man charged with possessing written material intended or likely to stir up hatred or arouse fear will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court later.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said 35 people have been arrested and 28 charged to appear before court since the disorder began earlier this month.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a report of intimidation at a park near Manse Road, Castlereagh, on Sunday.

A man was walking in the park at about 7.15pm when he was approached by six young people, who shouted abuse and intimidated him. As he walked away, the group threw stones at him.

The man was not injured and the Police Service of Northern Ireland said it was being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.

"We now have 35 people arrested and 28 charged to court in connection with the recent disorder," Ms Jones said.

"On Sunday, we released another five images of individuals whom we would like to speak to in connection with our ongoing investigation into disorder and attacks on police officers since Saturday August 3. You can view the images at www.psni.police.uk/news/op-exposure.

"Twenty officers have been injured since the disorder began, including one female officer sustaining severe facial injuries and another male officer with a broken leg.

"Assaults on our officers for doing their job is not acceptable.

"The various reports and incidents since last Saturday have been a disgrace and I am appealing to the public directly, do not let these criminals hide in your community.

"Anyone with any information should contact police. We have set up a major incident public portal for people to submit information, images and footage.

"Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage, can be shared with police through the major incident public portal at public portal (mipp.police.uk).

"Our public order inquiry team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.

"As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service."