Man on trial accused of terror group support

Mr Brockhouse was arrested at a property on Station Road, Halesowen

A man from the West Midlands has gone on trial accused of supporting two banned terror groups.

Kieron Brockhouse, of Halesowen, Dudley, was reckless as to whether his actions would encourage others to support the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), prosecutors alleged.

The organisations were proscribed as terrorist groups in 1973 and 1992 respectively.

The 42-year-old denies supporting the organisations in April 2021 and May 2022 by flying their respective flags and posting pictures of his actions on Facebook and WhatsApp.

Mr Brockhouse was arrested at a property on Station Road, Halesowen, on 17 May 2022 under the Terrorism Act, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

The trial heard Mr Brockhouse told officers that morning: "It's just a flag, mate. I have allegiance. I understand what the flag is ... I am an Orangeman."

'Reckless'

Prosecutor Martin Hackett told jurors Mr Brockhouse was alleged to have flown UFF and UDA flags above the ground-floor windows of a property in Banklands Road, Dudley.

A UFF flag was also allegedly flown at the rear of a house in Hurst Green Road, Halesowen.

Mr Hackett claimed Mr Brockhouse had posted images of the flags outside the properties on Facebook and shared them in a WhatsApp group named Victory Bant.

"He was reckless as to whether or not those actions encouraged support of those particular organisations," Mr Hackett alleged.

The prosecutor added Mr Brockhouse had visited Northern Ireland, and claimed the accused was well aware the organisations were proscribed.

The trial continues.