Jordan Benjamin McAuley: Ballymena rioter who threw 'projectiles' at police given 32-month sentence
A man who was captured throwing half a dozen missiles at police during riots in Ballymena in June has been handed a 32-month sentence.
Ordering Jordan Benjamin McAuley to serve his sentence split equally between jail and post-release licence, Judge Philip Gilpin said that despite submissions to the contrary, he was satisfied the offending was aggravated by racial hostility.
Jailing the 33-year-old at Antrim Crown Court, the judge said in addition to the aggravating factor of hostility due to race, he was also satisfied the elements of harm and culpability were also high.
At an earlier hearing McAuley, from Lantarra, admitted a single count of riot on June 11 this year.
Rehearsing the surrounding circumstances during his sentencing remarks, Judge Gilpin outlined how “large scale disorder” had broken out in Ballymena, rioting which occurred on three consecutive nights and which spread to other Northern Ireland towns.
In Ballymena alone, more than 50 police officers were injured, some seriously and that had a “serious effect” on morale and on the PSNI capability to “effectively police and keep people safe”.
The judge said homes and businesses belonging to ethnic minorities were targeted and set on fire, families were displaced, a pregnant lady and her child suffered smoke inhalation when their home was set ablaze and other children were kept off school over fears of them being attacked.
Turning to McAuley’s offending, he described how the 33-year-old had been captured on footage, both masked and unmasked and he had been identified “due to a distinctive leg tattoo”.
On that footage, it was possible to determined that McAuley had been in the area of Bridge Street and the Harryville Bridge for around 75 minutes, during which time he had thrown six projectiles at police lines on four separate occasions.
Arrested and interviewed, McAuley admitted he was in the area and identified himself on the footage but when officers asked him about his activities, “he gave no comment responses”.
Revealing that McAuley has 55 previous convictions including multiple entries for assaulting police and disorderly behaviour, Judge Gilpin said despite defence submissions to the contrary, he was satisfied that given the overall circumstances of the rioting, that his offending was aggravated due to hostility based on race.
The judge told McAuley if he had fought the case and lost, the sentence would have been around four years.
Giving credit for the guilty pleas, he imposed a 32-month sentence, 16 months in prison and the same period on licence.
Following sentencing, police said they had “worked tirelessly” to bring those involved in the disorder to justice.
Chief Inspector Michael O’Loan said: “In shameful scenes, there was large-scale disorder by people intent on causing harm. Damage was caused to roads, homes, cars and local business premises with people left fearing for their lives.
"Our officers came under attack and many left injured after petrol bombs, heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown at them.
"At the time, we assured the public that we will work tirelessly to restore calm and ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this criminality is brought to justice.
"Our dedicated investigation team has worked tirelessly to ensure that those involved are prosecuted – this sentencing is one of many over this disorder.”