Palace to prison: NI race riots accused got award from the King for ‘turning his life around’

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/palace-to-prison-ni-race-riots-accused-got-award-from-the-king-for-turning-his-life-around/a466764239.html

Palace to prison: NI race riots accused got award from the King for ‘turning his life around’

Larne hotel worker charged over Facebook account was given Prince’s Trust gong

A hotel worker who met the King after winning an award for turning his life around has been charged over the race riots.

Paul Laverty received a Prince’s Trust Award and met King Charles at Buckingham Palace last summer at a star-studded event alongside Martin Freeman and Penny Lancaster.

However, just over one year later, the 25-year-old — also known as Paul White — is on remand behind bars, charged with perverting the course of justice.

He allegedly tried to delete “incriminating evidence” on a Facebook page which posted the suspected addresses of members of the Roma community during widespread disorder earlier this month.

The defendant, with an address on Fairway in Larne, was refused bail during a hearing at Antrim Magistrates Court last week.

He is accused of attempting to log in to the Larne Anti-Immigration Protests page on Facebook to remove material after one of his friends was arrested, according to Court News NI.

The PSNI said it had seized Laverty’s phone and uncovered evidence indicating he had tried to access the account to remove or delete “incriminating evidence… under police investigation”.

In text messages the defendant received, the court heard, he was told his friend was being arrested and he should “remove that group quick”, but he allegedly failed to gain access to the page in time.

There were also suggestions a mobile phone should be reported stolen because the provider would then “wipe it clean”, and that if enough complaints were made to Facebook, the page in question would be taken down.

A police officer told the court the Facebook group was used to organise protests at Housing Executive offices in Larne and the town’s leisure centre, which was later set on fire.

During an interview with the PSNI, the defendant said he had gone to a “peaceful protest” on June 11, the same day as the arson attack on Larne Leisure Centre, involving around 200 people, before leaving once a police evidence-gathering truck arrived.

Laverty denied being involved in the riot.

He told police he had wanted to delete any posts he had made on the Facebook group because he no longer “wanted to be involved because he was not a violent man in any way”.

A defence barrister said his client “panicked” after a co-accused friend was arrested.

Refusing bail, District Judge Nigel Broderick said: “It is quite clear the alleged offending is linked to the rioting that went on in Ballymena and other locations.

“Courts have already expressed their concern about such widespread civil disorder, the effect it has had on innocent members of the community and police officers who are doing their level best to protect everyone in society.

“Participation in civil disorder can take many formats.

“Being in a public place and throwing objects at homes of people and police officers is one very obvious example, but equally, those who engage in online activities can contribute to civil disorder, and I am satisfied that you fall into that category.”

Laverty was remanded into custody and the case was adjourned to July 10.

His family declined to discuss the case when approached by Sunday Life.

Last May, he won a Rising Star Award at a glamorous event for the Prince’s Trust, having been informed of the honour by boxing legend Carl Frampton.

Laverty received the honour, which recognises a young person who has overcome difficulties to secure employment or training, despite having been convicted of theft two years prior.

Sitting in a police cell on the same day as his partner was going for the first baby scan on their son marked a low point in Laverty’s life.

Thanking the Prince’s Trust for getting him back on his feet and landing him a job at Ballygally Castle Hotel in Larne, he said last year he was “so proud” of himself and was glad to be a role model for his son.

He added he was “totally starstruck” when he found out about the award from retired champion Frampton.
“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think I was going to win the overall award,” Laverty said.

“I didn’t think people would believe in me, but now I can see how far I have come.

“I hope I can show other young people who’ve had a difficult start in life that anything is possible, no matter where you’re from or what barriers you face.”

The ceremony at the Drury Lane Theatre in London was hosted by Ant and Dec. Other celebrities in attendance included Roman Kemp, who presented Laverty with his award.

He was also one of the winners who met King Charles at Buckingham Palace the following day.

“I felt like I was famous for a few hours,” Laverty said at the time.

“King Charles was just so down-to-earth and knew everyone’s names and stories personally. It was an honour to meet him.”

Starting with a difficult childhood, Laverty said he “got involved with a bad crowd” after leaving school.

Aged 22, he was arrested and charged with theft when his partner was pregnant.

He said last year: “The day I was in police custody was the day of my baby’s first scan.

“That’s when I said to myself, ‘I need to change for the better’.”

After signing up to a hospitality placement programme sponsored by the Prince’s Trust, he got a placement at Ballygally Castle and was later offered a full-time job.

“It’s given me a second chance,” he said.

“I now have a house, I’m getting married and I’ve been invited back to my old school to talk about my journey.”