A 25-year-old Scottish man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for racially-motivated "violent disorder" connected to riots in Belfast during the summer of 2024. Reece Dunnett, from Dunfermline, Fife, pleaded guilty to charges including rioting and criminal damage at Laganside Crown Court on Friday.
Dunnett committed the offenses in the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of south Belfast on August 3, 2024. The unrest occurred as anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters confronted each other outside the city hall.
His sentence will be served half in prison and half on license following his release. Police were present during the tense scenes, with images from the time showing riot gear and vehicles surrounding a burning car, as well as individuals smashing shop windows.