Co Armagh man accused of threatening to burn his neighbour's Portadown home and shouting 'good riddance to all immigrants', Craigavon court hears

The 56-year-old faces two charges of harassment and threats to damage property.

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Paul Charles Shortland, from Levaghery Gardens, Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison on Friday.

Opposing bail a PSNI officer told the court that police received a report from the complainant on June 13 this year.

She claimed that her neighbour, the defendant, had approached her house on June 8 shouting “Where is the Romanian b**tard?” and began banging doors and windows.

She further claimed that on June 9 the defendant "had walked past her home and made comments about her being an immigrant and said the protests were for a good cause and good riddance to all immigrants whilst looking at her”, the officer told the court.

He also told the court that on June 13 the complainant claimed Shortland approached her home again “banging the door and windows and shouted that he would burn her house down and burn her car”.

After he was arrested Shortland denied all the allegations. The complainant and her partner both provided statements.

The officer said police were objecting to bail and pointed to the defendant’s 15 convictions, three for disorderly behaviour and four for “serious assaults”.

He added that due to the public disorder last week and “high rate of crime” which has resulted in “community tensions and fear”, police are concerned of a reoccurrence.

"He has stated previously he is addicted to alcohol and we believe this could cause further offending,” said the officer.

Shortland’s solicitor, Mr Richard Monteith, asked if the first alleged incident happened on Monday June 8 which was before the incident in north Belfast and the officer agreed.

He also asked that the complainant had not contacted police until June 13, and the officer said this was correct. He also verified Shortland and lived next door to the complainant for a number of years.

Mr Monteith said his client claims an incident arose on the Monday, June 8, where it is claimed the neighbour’s child smashed Shortland’s outdoor lights.

The solicitor said his client went to the neighbour to say he didn’t want to go to the police as he is only a child and asked for payment and reassurances it wouldn’t happen again.

The officer said the complainant and her partner have offered to pay for the damages.

Mr Monteith also put it to the officer that his client told police he had a discussion with a "named individual” in the street outside the complainant’s home who was going to the protests in Portadown on the Tuesday evening and his client “made it clear he had no interest in going to the protests and stayed at home”.

Mr Monteith said this case has “nothing to do with the widespread disorder, disgraceful scenes” across Northern Ireland.

Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare said: “It seems to be a neighbour dispute between the two.”

Mr Monteith asked that the defendant is released on bail to live with his mother.

The Deputy District Judge agreed to release him on his own £500 bail plus a £500 surety and with strict bail conditions. The case was adjourned until July 15.