Leading loyalist charged over Belfast riot

A leading Belfast loyalist was today charged with riotous behaviour and incitement to riot following street violence on Sunday that left 23 British soldiers and RUC officers injured.

Forty-three-year-old Jim Simpson, from Glenrosa Link, was remanded in custody after being refused bail at Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

Around 20 riot police were in court for today’s hearing, along with a number of loyalists who had gathered in the public gallery.

The court heard that Simpson, a loyalist community worker, was seen hurling a brick at an RUC Land Rover in the Limestone Rd area of Belfast on Sunday.

He then allegedly asked a group of around 30 youths to remain on the road and continue the violence.

He was arrested later in the Mount Bar on nearby North Queen Street and allegedly shouted to another man: “Tell them to go f***ing mad.”

In his defence, Mr Simpson’s lawyer said his client was at the scene of the riots in an attempt to defuse tensions and had actually encouraged loyalist youths to leave the area.