Four men who took part in 'EDL protest' outside asylum seeker hotel are found guilty of violent disorder after three cops were injured and police van was set on fire

Fireworks and a concrete slab were hurled outside Suites Hotel in KnowsleyRiot police were attacked during the demonstration in Merseyside last February 

Four men who took part in an ‘EDL protest’ outside an asylum seeker hotel have been found guilty of violent disorder after three police officers were injured and a police van was set on fire.

Today’s convictions come after clashes outside Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, on February 10 during a demonstration said to have been organised by the English Defence League.

A jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Brian McPadden, 61, Thomas Mills, 47, Paul Lafferty, 42, and Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21, guilty of violent disorder after deliberating for six hours and fifteen minutes.

The four defendants, all from Kirkby apart from O’Donoghue of Liverpool city centre, had admitted being present on the night but denied violent disorder.

Mills, who suffered two epileptic seizures during the trial, began to sob in the dock after the verdicts are returned and then fell from his seat.

Paul Lafferty, 42, left, and Jonjo O’Donoghue, 21, outside Liverpool Crown Court where they were today found guilty of violent disorder after last February’s clashes outside a hotel

Thomas Mills, 47, seen outside Liverpool Crown Court, was also convicted of violent disorder over the demonstration outside Suites Hotel in Knowsley which was housing asylum seekers

Brian McPadden, 61, also found guilty of violent disorder, had told Liverpool Crown Court he was ’embarrassed’ by his behaviour but insisted he had not thrown anything

Riot police attended the scene in Knowsley on February 10 last year after anticipating a protest had been called, thought to have been organised by the English Defence League

The court was adjourned as medical assistance was given to Mills and an ambulance was called.

A fifth defendant, Daniel Fulham, 39, was found not guilty of violent disorder and of a lesser offence of abusive or threatening behaviour with intent to provoke violence.

One member of the public left the court saying ‘you f***ing bastards’ after the first guilty verdict was returned.

During the trial, the court heard police were made aware on February 9 last year that a protest was expected to take place outside the hotel which was providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

There was ‘ill feeling’ in the local area after a video was shared on social media appearing to show an asylum seeker from the hotel asking a 15-year-old girl for her phone number and a kiss, the court heard.

The jury was told social media posts were made about the planned demonstration and leaflets were delivered.

On the Friday evening, members of a right-wing group and a left-wing group gathered outside the hotel on the outskirts of Kirkby.

Detective Constable David Williams told the court that at about 7pm a large group of people arrived at the scene on foot, adding: ‘At that time it seemed that tensions changed somewhat.’

Footage showed crowds chanting ‘get them out’ and throwing fireworks at a cordon of police officers, as a police van burned.

Rocks and paving slabs were also thrown, with one police officer needing hospital treatment and another two suffering less serious injuries.

Police imposed a daytime curfew to protect asylum seekers at the hotel in the week following last February’s clashes.

Mills could be seen in footage standing on top of the van before it was set alight and holding a banner which said: ‘Let’s shout, get them out.’

Prosecutor Martyn Walsh earlier told the trial how the Matrix van was ‘set on fire’ and ‘burnt out’ after police equipment including riot shields, helmets and metal bars was taken from inside. Damage was calculated as being worth £83,686.

A Matrix police van was set on fire and police equipment was stolen from inside including riot shields, helmets and metal bars, with damage valued at almost £84,000

Firefighters joined police at the scene after fireworks were hurled and the van set alight

The police van was ‘set on fire’ and left ‘burnt out’, prosecutors told the crown court trial

Police in riot gear were attacked with fireworks as well as a concrete paving slab, with one officer needing hospital treatment and another two suffering less serious injuries

Mr Walsh told the court the ‘majority of the evidence in the case’ came from footage obtained by a police drone, body-worn cameras of PCs attending the scene and ‘evidence-gathering officers’ who were ‘tasked with recording events’.

Four of the defendants were identified via these videos, with only one – Mills – being arrested on the night in question.

McPadden was heard in footage saying: ‘We protect our own, youse are not from Kirkby, we are. These are tw*ts, the lot of them.’

There was no evidence any of the defendants were members of a far-right group.

McPadden told the court during his evidence last week he was ’embarrassed’ by his behaviour, but said he was there for a ‘peaceful protest’.

The grandfather insisted he ‘never threw nothing’ during the incident and described such behaviour as ‘disgusting’, adding: ‘It was hitting us as well as the police.’

Asked of his comments at the scene, he added: ‘I was just frustrated, to be honest – the police weren’t doing nothing.’

Mr Walsh said of Mills: ‘He played an important role into violence, encouraging others to behave violently. He goes on to put himself right up against the police cordon.’

Jurors also heard that Lafferty was seen ‘pointing towards the police’ and shouting: “You f***ing bullies – you are provoking violence.’

Both Mills and Lafferty elected not to give evidence to the jury.

Mr Walsh said the footage captured O’Donoghue ‘very clearly lighting fireworks and throwing those fireworks at police officers’.

The defendant claimed on the stand he had only attended that night ‘out of boredom’ and to ‘try to get his friend away from the scene’.

He added: ‘I let a couple of fireworks off out of curiosity. It wasn’t something I intended to cause violence or anything to anyone.’

Police pictured at the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, on February 11 last year – the day after the violent clashes with demonstrators

Police had been tipped off that far-right protesters planned to gather outside the hotel while left-wing counter-demonstrations were also expected

Firefighters dousing down the police riot van which was set alight on February 10 last year

Five other men pleaded guilty to violent disorder at earlier hearings and have not yet been sentenced.

Seven youths, aged between 13 and 17, have been sentenced after they admitted violent disorder – with six given referral orders and one fined.

Jared Skeete, 19, was sentenced to three years’ detention last April after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder, having thrown fireworks and snorted ketamine while shouting abuse at police.

Three women – Cheryl Nicholls, 44, Nicola Elliott, 52, and Jennifer Knox, 41 – were found not guilty of violent disorder halfway through the trial following a direction to the jury from judge Denis Watson, who said there was ‘insufficient evidence’.