Court told of masked men racially-motivated hammer attacks during Belfast disturbance

Men in balaclavas carried out racially-motivated hammer attacks on two neighbouring homes in Belfast, a court has been told. Police said an eight-strong group smashed doors and windows on the properties in Rathlin Street because at least one of the occupants was not born in Northern Ireland. Details emerged as three men from the city were remanded in custody over their alleged involvement in the disorder on Tuesday night.

Craig Watson, 41, Curtis Bell, 28, and Reece Dolman, 26, are all charged with criminal damage offences. Watson, from Rathlin Street, is further accused of incitement to hatred in connection with the attacks on his neighbouring houses. Dolman, of Cambrai Street, faces additional counts of riotous behaviour and possessing an offensive weapon in public. Refusing bail to all three defendants, District Judge Anne Marshall said: “Anybody who takes to the streets and involves themselves in this type of public order offending can expect to be remanded in custody and to stay there for a considerable period of time.” Belfast Magistrates' Court heard masked men attacked the houses with hammers, causing extensive damage to the front doors and windows. A PSNI helicopter observed the incident and directed officers on the ground as they pursued suspects from the scene. An investigating detective disclosed that police found a balaclava when they arrested and searched Watson over his alleged role in the incident captured on CCTV. “From the footage it is believed he was pointing out the addresses of individuals that weren’t born in Northern Ireland,” the officer said. But a defence lawyer argued Watson was not seen carrying a weapon or causing any damage. Judge Marshall was told one of the houses targeted is next door to his home. “The footage shows him pointing and gesturing to properties,” the solicitor submitted. “He said he was ensuring that those persons involved were not going to attack his property.” Asked to explain the balaclava, the lawyer added: “He says he was approached by somebody known to be in the UVF and told to put it in his pocket. So that’s what he did.” Bell, from Fingal Street in Belfast, also had a balaclava when detained, but denied it belonged to him and claimed to have just found it. His solicitor, Damien Trainor, insisted he had been wrongly charged because police have no complaint from any resident or know who owns the single property he is accused of targeting. Mr Trainor suggested his client would be prepared to live with relatives in Scotland in a bid to secure release from custody. But opposing bail, the detective maintained: “Police believe these properties have been targeted through racial motivation as the occupant of the other address is foreign-born.” The court heard Dolman was also tracked and arrested for allegedly matching the description of those who carried out the attacks. His solicitor, Keith Gamble, confirmed he denies any involvement. Mr Gamble contended that he could not be identified on the CCTV footage and had no hammer when detained. “His friend group is extremely diverse, there’s nothing found on him in his house to suggest any motivation,” he added. Refusing bail to all three defendants, Judge Marshall cited the risk of reoffending. She stated: “I want to make it clear to anybody that thinks they are going to go out tonight, tomorrow night or the next night (to become involved in disorder), that they are looking at a remand in custody.”

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