March 11, 2011

Accused extremists face court over affray

Ten suspected right-wing extremists have appeared in court charged with violence

The men, from across Tyneside, are accused of attacking doormen at the Tyneside Irish Centre during a rival political meeting. The alleged attack is said to have happened on September 22 last year, when the left-wing Socialist Workers’ Party were meeting at the centre on Gallowgate, Newcastle city centre. The SWP had called the meeting to discuss ways to counter far-right groups.

Rebecca Gibson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Magistrates Court that the 10 men, all believed to be members of the far-right English Defence League, allegedly gathered in nearby Rosie’s Bar. She claimed they then descended on the Irish Centre, hurling abuse and attacking the doormen.

Yesterday, Anthony Burn, 47, of Lecondale Court, Leam Lane, Gateshead; Colin Burton, 27, of Wouldhave Court, South Shields; Peter Duffy, 43, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham, Durham; Michael Garriock, 22, of Gibson Street, Wallsend; Barry Keddy, 33, of Deneholm, Wallsend; Nicholas Mills, 24, of Drumaldrace, Washington; Alan Spence, 45, of Gerald Street, Benwell, Newcastle; Steven Spence, 26, of Whickham View, Benwell; and Paul Starr, 44, of Telford Street, East Howdon, all faced charges of affray and unlawful violence.

Dressed in EDL tops, sportswear and quilted jackets, with several sporting closely-shaven heads, the nine spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. Duffy and Mills denied the offences, but the rest withheld their pleas. The tenth accused, Colin Bell, 35, of St Oswald’s Road, Hebburn, had already denied the same charge when he appeared in court last week.

District Judge Stephen Earl said the case was too serious for the magistrates court and ordered it to be heard by judges at the crown court.

More than 20 supporters, many wearing St George’s flag hoodies, T-shirts and caps, packed out the courtroom for the brief hearing. Outside the court, surrounded heavily by police, some handed out pamphlets but did not mount an organised protest.

All 10 men will return to the magistrates court next month for committal.

The incident followed the Chronicle’s revelation that extremists in Gateshead had torched a copy of the Koran on September 11. The video, posted on YouTube, caused international fury.

Chronice Live

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

So ten of these super-brave tough-guy pissheads raided a meeting that probably held about nine weak and feeble lefties. Wow, hard men or what?

Anonymous said...

Any of these geniuses on the BNP membership lists?

Anonymous said...

It's about time the courts started locking up these hardcore fascist thugs and start throwing away the key.

EDL members should get used to eating gruel and slopping out their prison cells.

NewsHound said...

BRITISH CONSTITUTION GROUP INCLUDED LOONEY LIVERPOOL BNP MEMBERS: -

http://liveraf.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/the-british-constitution-group-in-birkenhead/

(INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT!)

Anonymous said...

There are rumours that Jonathan Bowden was arrested in Reading recently and sectioned under the Mental Health Act, does anybody know anymore?

Anonymous said...

Inbred Neo-nazi scumbags with low IQs.

Anonymous said...

Cowardly fash lowlives!

Anonymous said...

"several sporting closely-shaven heads"

Will the prison governers allow them to listen to Skrewdriver in the clink, or is white power music banned from jail?

Anybody know the answer???

Jen said...

Fascist thugs always attack socialists and anarchists given half a chance.

The EDL's idol Adolf Hitler sent socialists and anarchists to their deaths in concentration camps.

Anonymous said...

These disciples of the EDL's "master race" must be proud of their spineless thuggery.

Alan Lake, EDL Fuhrer! said...

Alan Lake's EDL Final Solution: -

http://1millionunited.org/blogs/blog/2010/06/03/alan-lakes-edl-final-solution/

Pure hardcore neo-Nazi genocidal fantasies from EDL's supreme funder London millionaire Alan Lake.

Anonymous said...

Coach trashed by EDL members returning from Luton

http://twitpic.com/48kq57