The leader and deputy leader of Britain First – the far-right group which gained international notoriety when it was retweeted by Donald Trump – have been charged by police in Northern Ireland in connection with alleged conduct in Belfast.
Paul Golding, 35, is expected to appear in court on 10 January after he was charged “with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour” following speeches at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally in Belfast on 6 August.
His deputy, Jayda Fransen, 31, charged on Thursday with the same offence, is expected to appear in court on Friday, in connection with an incident in Belfast on Wednesday.
Golding was arrested on Thursday morning after he accompanied Fransen to her first appearance at court in Belfast, where she was facing two charges related to a speech she made to about 50 people outside Belfast city hall on 6 August.
The judge, Fiona Bagnall, considered police and prosecution bail requests to limit Fransen’s involvement in any further rallies and her use of social media.
Bagnall did not limit Fransen’s social media activity, but said she was not to be within 500 metres of any demonstration or parade in Northern Ireland.
Fransen’s lawyer told the court that she intended to plead not guilty to two charges relating to behaviour intended to or likely to stir up hatred.
Her case relating to the August speech is expected before the court again on 9 January.A police spokeswoman also said inquiries were continuing into a report received regarding a video, featuring Fransen, which was posted on social media from Belfast on Tuesday.
A diplomatic row erupted between the UK and the US this month after the US president, Donald Trump, retweeted videos posted on Twitter by Fransen. The UK prime minister, Theresa May, criticised Trump over sharing the far-right group’s propaganda. “I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do,” she said at the time.