[Orangeman ‘gobsmacked’ at arrest for flying UFF flag in England, court told – The Irish News](https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/man-gobsmacked-at-arrest-over-banned-loyalist-group-flag-court-told-ZJ5E2VMZAJN3XJL5BBSUGXDDNY/)
## Kieron Brockhouse denies two counts of supporting a proscribed organisation by flying Ulster Freedom Fighters and Ulster Defence Association flags.
A West Midlands man accused of breaching anti-terror laws by flying a UFF flag told police he thought the group had “ceased to exist” after the Good Friday Agreement, a jury has heard.
Kieron Brockhouse, who denies two counts of supporting a proscribed organisation contrary to the 2000 Terrorism Act, said he was “gobsmacked” at being arrested ahead of a police interview in 2022.
Prosecutors allege Brockhouse was reckless as to whether his actions in flying UFF and UDA flags and posting images of them on social media would encourage others to support the organisations, which were outlawed in 1973 and 1992 respectively.
The 42-year-old denies two counts of supporting a banned organisation in April 2021 and May 2022 by flying the flags at houses in Banklands Road, Dudley, and Hurst Green Road, Halesowen.
Extracts of police interviews with Brockhouse, conducted at Oldbury custody suite after his arrest, were read to jurors on Thursday by prosecutor Martin Hackett.
Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court heard Brockhouse told police he was part of an Orange Order lodge, adding: “I like the support we get – it’s the history of my country.”
Questioned about a UFF flag seized from a flagpole in the back garden of the Halesowen address, Brockhouse told two interviewing officers: “I never thought it was an offence – that’s why I am so gobsmacked being in here.
“I am being classed as a terrorist for a flag.”
Claiming to have bought the UFF and UDA flags in a “high-street” shop in Belfast during a visit to the city, Brockhouse added: “I am just a patriotic man.
“If they can fly it out there – Britain – how come I have done something wrong?
“My naivety has got me in serious trouble. I have nothing to do with … no links to terrorism. I don’t support terrorism in any way.”
Asked by police if he supported the UFF, Brockhouse told officers: “No, I don’t support it at all.
“Absolutely not. I have bought them (the flags) from the Shankill Road in Belfast.
“If I can openly buy those in a shop, I can’t understand what I have done wrong.
“I thought after 1998 none of them existed.”
After being told by one of the police officers that it was illegal to encourage others to support proscribed groups such as the UFF, Brockhouse responded: “Like I said, I didn’t think the organisation existed any more.
“I have been sat in my cell reading (a book) about the Battle of Britain but it don’t mean I’m going to try to buy a Spitfire does it?”
The trial continues on Friday.
by Portal_Jumper125
24 comments
Can we enforce this law here?
Yeah some countries arent big on that sort of thing
iT’s DiScRiMiNaTiOn, sO iT Is, sTePhEn!
*“I have been sat in my cell reading (a book) about the Battle of Britain but it don’t mean I’m going to try to buy a Spitfire does it?”*
Bryson supplying the legal arguments?
He’s also trying to claim Northern Ireland is in Britain…thick as mud
What a monumentally stupid ignorant clown of a man. I feel dumber for having read his attempts to explain this.
“Something… something… **subjugation!**”
What is it some parts of the community love to go on about
Northern Ireland should be treated the same as the rest of the UK?
Be gobsmacked all you want. We’re trying to stop division and hatred and all the para groups have a responsibility.
>“I have been sat in my cell reading (a book) about the Battle of Britain but it don’t mean I’m going to try to buy a Spitfire does it?”
That book wasn’t flying from a flagpole out your back though was it dear Orange man?
>“I thought after 1998 none of them existed.”
Actually this is understandable. I’d even allow for somebody fed the high fructose British propaganda diet to believe they never even existed in the first place.
Not guilty
> I thought after 1998 none of them existed.
That sentence pretty much sums up the neat and tidy attitude I’ve encountered in England. I can’t fault it to an extent, your average English person couldn’t really care less about over here. For many I’ve met, the constitutional status here was a stab in the dark. African or European swallow territory. I can’t fault it to an extent because I wouldn’t give a shit about over here either if I was in their shoes. We’re a backwater, behind the times on practically every level and not that interesting either, to some at least. But it’s safe to head over to Belfast for a city break since it was “all sorted” in 1998.
The history of his fucking country. 
WuR KuLtaurE
It’s out kulture to fly our flags and walk celebrating our bigotry and terrorism.
“I don’t support terrorism.”
Files terrorist supporting flags.
“What did I do wrong?”
This would be the same if a republican flew an IRA flag in England.
Absolute madness, and a complete disregard of ownership of violence.
They are the people that need sent to Rwanda.
I wonder how many Orangemen have Irish first names.
>Kieron
A bit of a taigy name for a Loyalist…
So if you can’t do it in England why can you do it here unionists should be up in arms they should want the laws in England to be enforced here……
The “I’m a moron” defence. Amazing how many loyalists need it’s protection.
seems reasonable but on the other hand i don’t remember the irish girls team facing a judge over supporting the ira
is it just flags that get you done?
Halesowen & Dudley – and the Black Country in general – knows absolutely fuck all about Ulster, let alone the UFF.
I wonder who shopped him as 99.99% of the Yam Yams would have no clue about those flags or their symbols.
Since when is Kieron a Protestant name?? Did I miss the memo?
I hope the cunt gets sent down. Unlikely tho. He knows exactly what he was doing putting the flags up