Rioter at republican parade jailed
A young loyalist from Belfast’s Shankill Road has been jailed for 15 months for the role he played in a riot in an interface area of the city.
Belfast Crown Court heard that when arrested for rioting, 20-year old Logan McMullan said: “Up the hoods, we are lower Shankill and we will do what we want.”
Trouble flared in the Carlisle Circus area of Belfast on 2 September 2012 when a republican parade took place.
The riot was recorded by police and after viewing the footage, a number of arrests were made.
McMullan, from Boundary Way, is one of 22 people who have or will be appearing in court on charges connected to public disorder on the day in question.
A prosecution barrister told the court that McMullan was captured on CCTV at the scene of the public disorder for a three-hour period, during which he covered his face with a mask.
The prosecutor said the defendant “was observed throwing five stones at police from short range, as part of a concerted attack by a group on police lines”.
McMullan was also seen using a metal pole to strike a police Landrover twice, breaking up a wooden pallet and throwing it, and attacking a police shield with a stick.
Following his arrest on 4 October 2012 McMullan initially told police he had been present at the scene to show support for a peaceful protest and denied rioting, but subsequently pleaded guilty to the offence.
He also admitted assaulting an officer and resisting police during his arrest.
A defence lawyer told Judge Corinne Philpott QC that his client displayed a “brazen and unashamed attitude” when arrested but he now “exhibits remorse as opposed to defiance”.
Branding McMullan’s comments about hoods during his arrest as “crassly stupid”, Judge Philpott told McMullan that it was clear from the CCTV footage that he was “throwing stones enthusiastically”.
She handed McMullan a three-year sentence, 15 months of which will be spent in custody and the other 21 months on licence.
