'Scant' evidence men joined Knowsley asylum hotel clashes

A police van was set on fire after the protest turned violent

There is "scant" evidence to convict five men of violent disorder at a hotel housing asylum seekers, a jury heard.

Rocks and fireworks were thrown at police and a police carrier was set on fire after trouble flared at The Suites Hotel at Kirkby in February.

Brian McPadden, Thomas Mills, Paul Lafferty, Jonjo O'Donoghue and Daniel Fulham deny threatening violence or encouraging others to use violence

Three police officers were hurt in the violence, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The court was told there was "ill feeling" in the area after a social media video appeared to show an asylum seeker asking a 15-year-old girl for her phone number and for a kiss.

Stella Hayden, representing Mr McPadden, said "rumours, stories and a social media fanfare built a sense of concern and of grievance when it seemed matters were not taken seriously."

But she said the issue was not one of [the asylum seekers'] nationality, but of the behaviour Mr McPadden, 61, had heard about by the men at the hotel.

She added it was telling that at no stage did her client attempt to hide his identity, even though he was at the scene for nearly four hours.

William Beardmore, representing Mr Mills, 47, said the evidence against him was "woeful, scant and unconvincing."

Police in riot gear were deployed to scenes outside the hotel

Mr Mills was seen holding a banner saying "Let's All Shout, Get Them Out" and even standing on a police vehicle in a video shown in court.

However Mr Beardmore said Mr Mills was protesting peacefully adding "while you may not agree with the message on the banner... it does no more than encourage people to use their voice."

Mr Mills offered no evidence but Mr Beardmore said the jury was only entitled to use his silence against him if the crown's case against him was so strong that it called for an answer.

Barrister, Matthew O'Neill, said police video showed Mr Lafferty, 42, who also offered no evidence, accusing the police of provoking violence.

Mr O'Neill said his comments in a police interview "I threw a few verbals" were not threatening and would not encourage others to threaten.

Anthony O'Donohoe for Mr O'Donoghue, 21, said the jury could not be sure of the identity of someone seen in police video allegedly throwing fireworks at officers.

The scene where a police vehicle was set alight

Even though Mr O'Donoghue admitted lighting fireworks at the scene his defence said: "He was acting like a daft lad. Conduct you will disapprove of, but conduct that fell short of violent disorder.

"Young men can do foolish things and misbehave."

Isabella Denn-White, for Mr Fulham, 39, said he made his way through a police cordon with his Jack Russell dog which he later thrust at police officers while shouting "get them out" but she said the case against him was "poor".

She added that he never threatened anyone, damaged anything or hurt anyone and was only at the scene for only 15 minutes. The court heard he went home when the disturbance became more serious.

The jury of six men and six women has been hearing the judge's summing up.