Menu
04/07/2011
Spanish Rioter Jailed For Ardoyne Attack
A Spanish national could have killed a female police officer when he dropped a concrete block on her during last July's post-Twelfth Ardoyne rioting.
Rodger Jarro Costa, 29, pleaded guilty to attempting to commit grievous bodily harm last month, just as his trial was about to begin and has been sentenced to four years in prison after he admitted injuring the policewoman during the violence.
Costa, with an address at Ulsterville Avenue in south Belfast, had already pleaded guilty to an offence of rioting.
The unnamed victim was one of 48 PSNI officers injured during three nights of violence. Judge Tom Burgess told Belfast Crown Court that Costa had intentionally armed himself and thrown several pieces of heavy masonry at police.
His intention was to injure them and he said that the politics and journalism graduate was lucky not to be facing more serious charges as he could easily have caused fatal injuries to the policewoman.
The Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has welcomed the sentence given to a man charged with grievous bodily harm to a police officer during serious public disorder in Ardoyne last year.
Brian Rea said: "This sentence sends a very strong message that those who cause injury to our police officers during public order situations will be dealt with robustly by the courts.
"Last week when the Board met to discuss the disorder in east Belfast, and members were assured by the Chief Constable that those who purposefully come onto our streets to engage in riotous behaviour will be subject to follow up investigations by police.
"Members agreed that a clear message has to be sent that this type of behaviour will result in prosecution and this is an approach which the Board strongly supports," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
Rodger Jarro Costa, 29, pleaded guilty to attempting to commit grievous bodily harm last month, just as his trial was about to begin and has been sentenced to four years in prison after he admitted injuring the policewoman during the violence.
Costa, with an address at Ulsterville Avenue in south Belfast, had already pleaded guilty to an offence of rioting.
The unnamed victim was one of 48 PSNI officers injured during three nights of violence. Judge Tom Burgess told Belfast Crown Court that Costa had intentionally armed himself and thrown several pieces of heavy masonry at police.
His intention was to injure them and he said that the politics and journalism graduate was lucky not to be facing more serious charges as he could easily have caused fatal injuries to the policewoman.
The Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has welcomed the sentence given to a man charged with grievous bodily harm to a police officer during serious public disorder in Ardoyne last year.
Brian Rea said: "This sentence sends a very strong message that those who cause injury to our police officers during public order situations will be dealt with robustly by the courts.
"Last week when the Board met to discuss the disorder in east Belfast, and members were assured by the Chief Constable that those who purposefully come onto our streets to engage in riotous behaviour will be subject to follow up investigations by police.
"Members agreed that a clear message has to be sent that this type of behaviour will result in prosecution and this is an approach which the Board strongly supports," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
04 September 2007
NI Policing Board Seeks Custody Visitors
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has launched a campaign to recruit Custody Visitors to join the Board’s Custody Visiting Scheme. The volunteer scheme, which operates throughout Northern Ireland, is a means of monitoring how people who are held in police custody are treated.
NI Policing Board Seeks Custody Visitors
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has launched a campaign to recruit Custody Visitors to join the Board’s Custody Visiting Scheme. The volunteer scheme, which operates throughout Northern Ireland, is a means of monitoring how people who are held in police custody are treated.
20 February 2004
Security Minister welcomes police training college decision
Security Minister Jane Kennedy has welcomed the Policing Board's decision to locate the new police training college in Cookstown, Co Tyrone. The new centre will built on a 210-acre site beside a food science centre at Desertcreat on the outskirts of the town and is expected to open in 2007 at a projected cost of about £80m.
Security Minister welcomes police training college decision
Security Minister Jane Kennedy has welcomed the Policing Board's decision to locate the new police training college in Cookstown, Co Tyrone. The new centre will built on a 210-acre site beside a food science centre at Desertcreat on the outskirts of the town and is expected to open in 2007 at a projected cost of about £80m.
14 May 2012
Seven Police Officers Disciplined Over Pensioner's Death
Seven police officers have been disciplined over an investigation into the death of Lisburn man Jim Heasley in October 2010. The 70-year-old was assaulted as he walked home from Lagan Valley Pigeon Club. An investigation by the Police Ombudsman found a series of failings in the initial police response.
Seven Police Officers Disciplined Over Pensioner's Death
Seven police officers have been disciplined over an investigation into the death of Lisburn man Jim Heasley in October 2010. The 70-year-old was assaulted as he walked home from Lagan Valley Pigeon Club. An investigation by the Police Ombudsman found a series of failings in the initial police response.
10 July 2003
Half of Catholic population 'happy' with PSNI
A new Policing Board survey has revealed that around half of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland think the PSNI "treats everyone equally".
Half of Catholic population 'happy' with PSNI
A new Policing Board survey has revealed that around half of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland think the PSNI "treats everyone equally".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
