11/11/2025
Man Sentenced To 14 Months For Encouraging Riot During Belfast Disorder
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced at Laganside Crown Court on Monday, 10 November, for an offence linked to a sustained disorder which took place in Belfast last summer.
Gary Richardson had previously entered a guilty plea to the offence of intentionally encouraging or assisting riot.
Richardson was handed a 14-month sentence, with half of the term to be served in prison and the remaining seven months to be spent on licence.
Detective Inspector Kitchen confirmed that the disorder broke out across Belfast on Saturday, 3 August 2024, and was racially-motivated.
Richardson was captured on police camera footage in the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of South Belfast. He was seen engaging with masked persons who later actively engaged in riot, and was captured leading a group of masked persons along Sandy Row to the area of a building site on Blythe Street.
Detective Inspector Kitchen added: "This same group later re-emerged on to Sandy Row and engaged in riot by throwing masonry at police."
Richardson presented at Musgrave Police Station on Friday, 23 August, where he was arrested, interviewed, and subsequently charged.
The PSNI reiterated that they will ensure anyone who chooses to take part in this type of criminality is brought to justice.
Alternatively, a report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form at 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 crimestoppers-uk.org
Gary Richardson had previously entered a guilty plea to the offence of intentionally encouraging or assisting riot.
Richardson was handed a 14-month sentence, with half of the term to be served in prison and the remaining seven months to be spent on licence.
Detective Inspector Kitchen confirmed that the disorder broke out across Belfast on Saturday, 3 August 2024, and was racially-motivated.
Detective Inspector Kitchen added: "This same group later re-emerged on to Sandy Row and engaged in riot by throwing masonry at police."
Richardson presented at Musgrave Police Station on Friday, 23 August, where he was arrested, interviewed, and subsequently charged.
The PSNI reiterated that they will ensure anyone who chooses to take part in this type of criminality is brought to justice.
Alternatively, a report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form at 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 crimestoppers-uk.org
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