A Scottish man has been jailed for burning two cars during a riot in Belfast that erupted following the Southport stabbings. Reece Dunnett, 25, from Dunfermline, Fife, was sentenced to 27 months after admitting taking part in the public disorder in the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area of south Belfast on August 3, 2024.
Footage shows role in disorder
Belfast Crown Court heard riots broke out across the city in response to events in Southport, Liverpool, where three young children were killed in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop. Prosecutor Mark O'Hara played CCTV footage showing Dunnett, who was working in Northern Ireland at the time, dressed in black shorts and a blue hoodie with his face concealed. The footage showed him helping a crowd push over a black Vauxhall Astra before it was set alight.
Dunnett was also seen playing a similar role in an attack on a white Suzuki Alto, which was subsequently destroyed by fire. The court heard Dunnett was identified from the footage and later pleaded guilty to one charge of rioting and two counts of criminal damage by destroying the cars.
Defence and sentencing
Mr O'Hara said Dunnett had attempted to minimise his role when speaking to a probation officer, claiming he was not involved in causing damage to the vehicles. Defence barrister Michael Boyd described the rioting as "outrageous" and said Dunnett had "clearly crossed the custody threshold". He said his client had accepted his guilt and responsibility despite the "silly comments" made to the probation officer.
Dunnett had become "caught up" in the events, the court heard. Mr Boyd said his behaviour had been "opportunistic, impulsive and reactive", adding that Dunnett had expressed "genuine remorse and shame" for his offending. But Judge Gordon Kerr KC said Dunnett had been at the scene of public disorder for around two-and-a-half hours and had played a "full and active part in burning two cars".
He said the disorder had caused significant expense in terms of police time and resources, as well as damage across Belfast. Judge Kerr said deterrent sentences were "absolutely necessary" to make clear that widespread public disorder, disruption and damage would not be tolerated. "The only way to deal with such persons is by immediate custodial sentences," he said.
Sentence and police response
Dunnett was handed a 27-month sentence, divided equally between custody and supervised licence. Judge Kerr said Dunnett could apply to prison authorities to serve part of his sentence in Scotland "in ease of his family". Dunnett began crying in the dock as the sentence was imposed before being led away in handcuffs by prison staff.
Detective Inspector McCartan said: "On Saturday, 3rd August 2024 racially-motivated disorder broke out across Belfast. During this evening, Dunnett was recorded in police footage engaging in various acts of violent disorder in the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of south Belfast. He was observed helping a crowd pull down the fence to a building site in Blythe Street before collecting multiple pieces of masonry and a scaffold plank which he threw at police lines from a short distance. Dunnett also assisted a crowd with helping to overturn two vehicles in Wellwood Street before they were set alight in the middle of the road by others."
Detective Inspector McCartan continued: "Police enquiries identified Mr Dunnett as a suspect, and he later presented at Musgrave Police Station where he was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, interviewed and subsequently charged. The Police Service of Northern Ireland will ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this type of criminality is brought to justice, just as Dunnett has been today. We continue to appeal to anyone who has been the victim of, or has any information on, any crime to contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. We can assure you that we will always act on concerns and information we receive."
