Defendant collapses in dock as CCTV of fireworks thrown at police shown to court

10 January 2024 , 13:09

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A van was set alight as riot police on the scene outside Knowsley Suites Hotel, Kirkby, Liverpool (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A man accused of throwing lit fireworks at police during violent scenes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers claimed that he only arrived to "take his friend away" as a court heard a mob hurled a barrage of missiles at officers with one even being struck by a paving stone.

Five men and three women from Kirkby and Liverpool went on trial accused of violent disorder after a disturbance broke out during a protest outside the city's Suites Hotel on February 10 last year. One of the eight - Thomas Mills - collapsed in the dock with a reported seizure as CCTV was shown to the jurors of the violence.

Prosecutor Martyn Walsh earlier told a jury of six men and six women that the trouble flared after a video which claimed to show an asylum seeker, who was staying at the hotel, "asking a 15-year-old for her phone number and a kiss" circulated on social media. He told the court that police who turned out to handle a subsequent demonstration "were faced with hostility and violence".

Mr Walsh said the "majority of the evidence in the case" came from footage obtained by a police drone and body worn cameras of PCs who attended. He went on: "Officers were bombarded with various missiles, for example rocks and bottles.. There was an officer injured by a concrete slab. The crown would submit that fireworks were being directed towards the police."

The court heard seven of the defendants were identified via these videos, with only one, Thomas Mills, being arrested on the night in question. One of the men in the dock, Brian McPadden, was said to have been seen on camera "with his arms out, shouting at officers". While pointing towards the hotel, the 61-year-old was heard to say: "We protect our own. Yous are not from Kirkby, we are. These are t***s. These are t***s, the lot of them. Where are they now? They're hiding behind the curtains. Look at them all. cheeky b******s."

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McPadden then allegedly went on to say: "How come you've got the f***ing audacity to support them? They'd better not leave that place in the next few days, because they'll be dead. I've got five grandkids and I don't want that. Sorry." He also reportedly shouted: "Who do you think you f***ing are? You cheeky b******s. "We're the innocent ones, not them. We're the innocent ones, they're not. "You don't know Kirkby. We stick up for ourselves. Cheeky b******s up there. They're sitting on the roof watching this, w*****s."

Defendant collapses in dock as CCTV of fireworks thrown at police shown to court

Paul Lafferty (left), and Jonjo O'Donoghue outside Liverpool Crown Court (Liverpool Echo)

Mills was said to be seen hitting the police van which would later be torched with a flag. The 47-year-old was then alleged to have clambered on top of the vehicle and held the banner, which read "let's shout get them out", aloft. Mr Walsh said: "He played an important role into violence, encouraging others to behave violently. He goes on to put himself right up against the police cordon."

Mills later gave a prepared statement to the police under interview, stating that he was "was standing peacefully when arrested". Jurors also heard that 42-year-old Paul Lafferty was seen "pointing towards the police" and shouting: "You f***ing bullies. You are provoking violence."

Mr Walsh said the footage captured 21-year-old Jonjo O'Donoghue "very clearly lighting fireworks and throwing those fireworks at police officers". But he claims he "effectively went to remove his friend from the situation" and to "take his friend away".

Daniel Fulham was described as "one of a group of people who made their way past the first line of officers at the cordon by the police carrier". He was said to have pushed at the riot shields of the officers before being pushed back, at which the 37-year-old shouted "f*** you". He was also "seen to be aggressive and shout f*** you while, behind him, the crowd are shouting 'get them out'.

The court was told Cheryl Nicholls was seen "shouting and gesturing towards the police", with the 44-year-old heard to say: "Every Friday we're going to be here. Every single Friday we're going to be here, so make sure yous are. You've got 500 dirty b****** nonces in there. I hope your kids are proud of you, tell them what you've done tonight. You, you fat k***head, You're as bad as them. They're not allowed in our shops. No one is allowed in our shops, you'd better tell them."

Nicholls was also said to have been "stood with a large group confronting the police" who then "charged at the police, throwing items and kicking out", the court heard. Under interview, she "said she went for a peaceful protest as she had concerns about a social media video she'd seen".

Nicola Elliott, 42, of Ellison Drive was "seen to be shouting 'get them out' and 'are you happy they're raping our children?'" according to prosecutors. She was described as "part and parcel of the crowd", and allegedly added: "You're not doing anything about it. They're dirty nonces. Raping our children. Dirty perverts in there. We'll come here every day, every day until yous get rid of them. We're protecting our children. We're not racist, we just want to protect our daughters. You're as bad as them, f***ing nonces."

Thomas Mills and Jennifer Knox outside Liverpool Crown Court (Liverpool Echo)

The court was told Jennifer Knox, 41, was seen "on the left of" Mills as he held the banner aloft and was "stood at the front of the group confronting the police officers, shouting at the police officers". Mr Walsh said: "Her conduct has added to the threat of violence faced by the police." He also added: "There were other people who were either arrested or identified later who have already appeared. They have pleaded guilty in respect of their part in the violent disorder that took place."

Detective Constable Dave Williams told the court a police carrier that was "totally destroyed by fire", "a number of other vehicles had windows smashed and damage caused to the bodywork". He was asked by Mr Walsh whether "anything had happened in the local community" in the days prior, and replied: "A 15-year-old school child, a female school child, was on her way home from school. She spoke with a person who was an asylum seeker from the hotel. There was an allegation made to the police that this person had acted inappropriately. He asked for her phone number and allegedly asked for a kiss. This was recorded on the child's mobile phone. That incident was brought to the attention of the police. It was investigated, and unfortunately a decision was made via the CPS that no crime had been committed at that point."