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Belfasttelegraph

News [1]
Opinion [2]
Business [3]
Sport [4]
Life [5]
Entertainment [7]
Travel [8]
Sunday Life [9]

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Belfast flags violence is just thuggery, says judge

Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter

Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a flag protest

Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag

Protest outside the Alliance Party office in East Belfast belonging to Naomi Long, following the decision by Belfast City Council to stop flying the union flag every day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 4, 2012. See PA story ULSTER Flag. Photo credit should read: Paul Faith/PA Wire

Police in Carrick come under attack from protestors following a fire at the Alliance party office

Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest

Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast

Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall

Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter

Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a flag protest

Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag

Protest outside the Alliance Party office in East Belfast belonging to Naomi Long, following the decision by Belfast City Council to stop flying the union flag every day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 4, 2012. See PA story ULSTER Flag. Photo credit should read: Paul Faith/PA Wire

Paul Faith

Alliance party office which was set on fire in Carrickfergus after a protest rally over the Union flag

Police in Carrick come under attack from protestors following a fire at the Alliance party office

Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter

Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest

Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days.

Northern Ireland- 4th December 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Loyalist hold protest at Naomi Long's east Belfast Alliance office following a council vote last night which will see the Union Flag only follow certain days. Loyalist protesters pictured on the Newtownards Road during the protest.

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags clash with police outside the City Hall in Belfast

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall

Paul Faith

Loyalist protestors pictured at Belfast City Hall

Aftermath of riots in Carrickfergus. Photograph by Mark Winter

December 14 2012 06:46 AM

Street disorder linked to loyalist flag protests is “thuggish rioting” that puts police officers lives at risk, a High Court judge said.

Mr Justice McCloskey hit out at the violence after hearing allegations that a teenager threw bricks at officers and kicked a PSNI Land Rover.

Johnathan McClelland (18), of Tavanagh Street, Belfast, faces a charge of riotous behaviour.

He is accused of being among a crowd of up to 30 who pelted police with missiles in the city's Sandy Row area last Friday night.

McClelland was arrested and later admitted his involvement, the court heard. Seeking bail yesterday, defence barrister Dennis Boyd said his client had gone to for a peaceful protest but “foolishly got himself caught up and involved himself”.

He added that McClelland has enrolled in a joinery training course. Mr Justice McCloskey adjourned the application until he receives more details about the course.

He also took issue with the use of the word ‘protest' and added: “The reality of the vast majority of this kind of behaviour is that it is thuggish rioting, there is no other way of approaching it.”