A man has been sentenced at Laganside Crown Court today, Monday 10th November, for an offence linked to sustained disorder which took place in Belfast last summer.

Gary Richardson (43) from the Belfast area had entered an earlier guilty plea to the offence of intentionally encouraging or assisting riot.

He was handed a 14-month sentence today in court, half of which will be spent in prison, and the remaining seven months on licence.

Detective Inspector Kitchen said: “On Saturday, 3rd August 2024 racially-motivated disorder broke out across Belfast. Richardson was captured on police camera footage in the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of south Belfast.

“He was engaging with a number of persons present in the area including masked persons who later actively engage in riot. Richardson was also captured on camera leading a group of masked persons along Sandy Row to the area of a building site on Blythe Street.

“This same group later re-emerged on to Sandy Row and engaged in riot by throwing masonry at police.”

Detective Inspector Kitchen continued: “On Friday, 23rd August the defendant presented at Musgrave Police Station where he was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting riot. He was interviewed by officers and later subsequently charged to court in connection with the offence.”

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland will ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this type of criminality is brought to justice, just as Richardson has been today.

“We continue to appeal to anyone who has been the victim of, or has any information on, any crime to contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. We can assure you that we will always act on concerns and information we receive.”

Alternatively, a report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Should you wish to make a report anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org