A tourist was dragged to the ground and kicked as he and a friend were subjected to a suspected race-hate attack in Belfast city centre, a court heard today.
Police claimed four people targeted the two men in the Royal Avenue area at around 11pm on Tuesday. Racial slurs were also allegedly shouted at the victims during the assault.
Details emerged as Connil Rice, 34, Cian Quinn, 28, Lucy Reid, 38, and 22-year-old sister Victoria Reid were all remanded into custody on charges connected to the attack.
Refusing bail to the four defendants, District Judge Anne Marshall declared: “I have a duty to protect the public and visitors to our city.”
Quinn, of Southview Street in Belfast, faces counts of attempted grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Rice, with an address at Oisin House on Victoria Parade in the city, is charged with common assault and disorderly behaviour.
Lucy Reid, from Southview Street in Belfast, has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while Victoria Reid, of Ormeau Centre in Waring Street, faces counts of disorderly behaviour and common assault.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard they were arrested after CCTV operators alerted the PSNI to a group of people fighting in the Royal Avenue area.
Police said the footage showed Rice approaching one of the men who initially attempted to get away from him.
He continued talking to the frightened victim while following him down the street, it was claimed.
An investigating officer said: “I have seen the CCTV and in my opinion his behaviour is very daunting, the way he was walking alongside and speaking to the injured party.”
Rice allegedly punched the man in the face after being pushed away, with a scuffle breaking out at the scene.
He then allegedly called on the other defendants to get involved. The court was told Quinn targeted the second tourist when he tried to help his friend.
He suffered a cut lip and bloodied face, neither man wanted to attend hospital.
At one point Victoria Reid allegedly shouted racial abuse across the street at the two victims.
“She went on to call the males ‘Pakis’ and ‘traffickers’ and told police ‘open their bags, you will see that they have knives’,” the officer contended.
“Police believe this to be a hate crime.”
Judge Marshall was told the footage also depicted Victoria Reid dragging one of the men onto the ground.
“She lay on top of him while her sister Lucy is seen kicking him to the bottom of his back,” the officer added.
During police interviews Rice claimed he acted in self-defence after one of the men pushed him first. Quinn declined to answer questions when the footage was put to him.
Disputing the version of events advanced by police, defence lawyers argued that the alleged racial aggravation was not raised during interviews.
But denying bail to all four accused based on the risk of re-offending, the judge remanded them in custody until November 27.
“This is a very serious and concerning incident,” she said.
“The court has a duty to protect the public, people who live and work in Belfast, and people who want to use the very heart of the city centre in the evening to attend whatever activities and events are going on.”