Footage showed the defendant helping a crowd to push over a black Vauxhall Astra car before it was set alight
A rioter cried in the dock today as he was handed a 27-month sentence for what a judge said was his “full and active part in burning two cars” during public disorder.
Reece Dunnett, 25, of Vorlich Way, Dunfermline in Scotland, had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of rioting and two counts of criminal damage by destroying two cars.
Belfast Crown Court heard rioting erupted across Belfast in August 2024 in reaction to the events in Southport, Liverpool, when three young children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance-themed workshop.
Prosecution barrister Mark O’Hara played CCTV footage to the court of public disorder which broke out in the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area in south Belfast on August 3, 2024.
He told Judge Gordon Kerr KC that Dunnett was identified from the footage dressed in black shorts and a blue hoodie top with his face concealed.
The footage showed the defendant helping a crowd to push over a black Vauxhall Astra car before it was set alight. Mr O’Hara said Dunnett played a similar role in an attack on a white Suzuki Alto car which was destroyed by fire.
The prosecutor said that during an interview with a probation officer, Dunnett tried to minimise his role, saying he was not involved in causing damage to the cars
Defence barrister Michael Boyd described the rioting as “outrageous”.
“We all saw the footage at the time on the news. What he has pleaded guilty to has clearly crossed the custody threshold,” said Mr Boyd.
“He has accepted his guilt and has accepted his responsibility notwithstanding the silly comments he made to the probation officer.”
He added that Dunnett was working in Northern Ireland at the time of the rioting and got “caught up” in events.
“He has expressed genuine remorse and shame for his offending which has been reflected in the pre-sentence report,” added Mr Boyd.
He described Dunnett’s behaviour on the evening of August 3 as “opportunistic, impulsive and reactive”.
Judge Kerr said Dunnett had been at the scene of public disorder for around two-and-half-hours and played a “full and active part in burning two cars”.
He added: “We have seen on the video some of the activity involved in this case.
“This behaviour took place in August 2024 and there were multiple incidents throughout Belfast in response to events in Southport, Liverpool and Belfast was not the only place affected by this type of behaviour.”’
Judge Kerr said that the prosecution had outlined the expense in terms of police time, resources and damage that was caused throughout the city and that must be considered in the course of sentencing in these types of cases.
“The upshot is that deterrent sentencing is absolutely necessary to make it clear to people that widespread public disorder causing disruption to society, causing damage and injury to police officers, members of the security forces and fire service personnel will not be tolerated,” said Judge Kerr.
“The only way to deal with such persons is by immediate custodial sentences.”
Handing down the 27-month sentence, divided equally between custody and supervised licence, Judge Kerr said it would be up to Dunnett to decide if he wanted to apply to the prison authorities to serve part of his sentence in Scotland “in ease of his family”.
Dunnett started crying in the dock as the sentence was imposed before he was led away in handcuffs by prison staff.
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