PSNI hopes football banning order sends 'warning' to those intent on ...
The PSNI hopes a three-year football banning order handed down to a Co Antrim man will send a message to those intent on causing disorder at Irish League fixtures.
Finlay Hedges from Causeway Street in Portrush, was handed the banning order and fined £300 after he was found to be in possession of flares inside Coleraine Football Club.
The 20-year-old was sentenced at Coleraine Magistrates Court last week.
He was banned after he was identified as being in possession of flares during a match against Ballymena United at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday, August 4, 2023.
Entering a plea in mitigation, Hedges’ defence counsel revealed that the day before his most recent court appearance, he had appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court, where he was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service.
In that case, Hedges had admitted an offence of disorderly behaviour on Ballymena’s Broughshane Street on October 21, 2023, which was also related to an incident when the same two teams met.
Commenting on the banning order, a spokesperson for the PSNI said: “We welcome this banning order and hope that it is a warning to those who are intent on causing trouble before, during or after matches, that they will be dealt with robustly.
"Football related offending causes direct harm to law abiding supporters, those who volunteer and work in football grounds and in the communities surrounding local football grounds.
“This individual will be unable to attend any domestic matches for three years, and I believe this will send a clear message to fans that any reckless, disorderly or criminal behaviour will not be tolerated and that we, as a police service, will actively seek banning orders for anyone brought before the courts.
“We will continue to work with local football clubs, fan groups, Northern Ireland Football League and the Irish Football Association to address any criminal activity linked to people attending football matches.”
In August 2022, Hedges was handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, for offences of harassment and throwing fireworks.
He threw them in the Juniper Hill caravan park in Portrush and at the home of a police officer.
The 20-year-old later entered guilty pleas to three counts of throwing fireworks and harassment of the police officer.
