A NORTH Belfast man has been jailed for 15 months for what a judge described as his "full and active part'' in a riot during an anti-internment parade last summer.
John Joseph Burns (24), of Rosapenna Street, had pleaded guilty to charges of rioting on August 9, 2015 and causing criminal damage to a PSNI Land Rover on the same date.
Prosecutor Simon Jenkins told Belfast Crown on Friday that "violent disorder'' erupted in Rosapenna Street during an anti-internment parade and police, with water cannon, moved into prevent further trouble.
"Police came under sustained attack from people...riot police on foot were kicked and punched by rioters," he said.
The court heard that Burns was captured on CCTV footage rioting and later damaging the wing mirror of a police Land Rover.
The court heard that at times his face was covered but he was identified by his clothing.
Judge Gordon Kerr QC was told that Burns was arrested on September 25 last year and during police interviews denied rioting and claimed he had "never left his garden'' during the public disorder.
"When the footage was shown to him he replied 'no comment' to police questions.''
Mr Jenkins added that Burns, a father-of-one had 24 previous convictions including one for theft.
Defence barrister Sean O'Hare said that by his guilty plea Burns "accepts his responsibility'' for his actions on the day.
"The defendant was not part of the parade protest as he was a resident of Rosapenna Street.''
He added that Burns had consumed alcohol on the day and said he had ongoing mental health issues.
Mr O'Hare said the defendant, who had suffered a recent family bereavement, was now a full time carer for his three-year-old child after the child's mother and his former partner had to leave the area following a threat to her life.
Judge Kerr QC said recent Court of Appeal guidelines stated "immediate custodial sentences could be only suspended if there was highly exceptional circumstances''.
The judge told Burn: "I have looked at your case. You role in this was to stay at the scene for a period of one hour and 30 minutes and you were seen on CCTV throwing masonry and missiles, punching and kicking at police officers and attacking one of their Land Rovers.
"You played a very full and active part in this rioting.''
Stating that if the case had gone to trial and Burns had been convicted, the judge said he would have imposed a sentence of five years.
