A former soldier has been sentenced to 70 days in prison for setting fire to a copy of Muslim holy book the Koran in the centre of Carlisle.
Andrew Ryan had previously admitted religiously aggravated harassment and theft of a Koran from a library. The 32-year-old, of Summerhill, said he had been "shocked" watching a Muslim burning a poppy on Remembrance Day.
Shoppers and schoolchildren witnessed the burning, outside the old Town Hall, on 19 January.
Sitting at Carlisle Magistrates' Court, District Judge Gerald Chalk described it as a case of "theatrical bigotry".
He said: "It was pre-planned by you as you stole the book deliberately. You went out to cause maximum publicity and to cause distress."
Ryan struggled with security guards in court after the sentence was passed. While being handcuffed he shouted: "What about my country? What about burning poppies?"
About 10 people were in court to support Ryan, and as they left the court they shouted "do you call this justice?".
After sentencing, Inspector Paul Marshall, of Cumbria Police, said: "This incident was highly unusual for Cumbria as we have such low levels of hate crime in the county."
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LONDON -- Britain's Prince Harry has been promoted to captain in the Air Corps after completing five years' service in the army, palace officials said Sunday. The prince, a former lieutenant and trainee Apache helicopter pilot, would now be known as Captain Harry Wales, St. James's Palace said in a statement.
He was also awarded his Apache Badge on Thursday, marking the completion of an eight-month course that included day and night flying and ground school training. The 26-year-old prince is now qualified to fly the aircraft without an instructor, and he has progressed to a further weapons handling course to complete his training as an Army Air Corps pilot.
Harry became an army officer in April 2006, after a 44-week training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, southwest of London. He had served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan during 2007 and 2008 as an air controller.
Posted by: Mr. Bill ||
04/18/2011 16:20 Comments ||
Top||
#4
He had served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan during 2007 and 2008 as an air controller.
So: he didn't get into the air in his chosen profession (where the projectiles fly?). Know's how to work the system, eh?
#5
I understand he volunteered but the powers-that-be decided his downing/capture/kill would be a PR disaster. Don't disagree with that. It's the will, not the doing, that should be respected. He's done it, been there. More power to him. Obviously, Diana's son more than the Muslim-Luvin Tampon-In-Chief Dad
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/18/2011 22:40 Comments ||
Top||
#6
So: he didn't get into the air in his chosen profession (where the projectiles fly?). Know's how to work the system, eh?
Posted by: Jealet Smith4593
A totally uncalled for comment Jealet, particularly in light of the people who run our government these days. No problem with old Albion or Royals bashing, but not a lad in uniform for phuechs sake. I would urge you to have the mods remove it before it causes any additional embarrassment.
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LONDON -- Britain's Prince Harry has been promoted to captain in the Air Corps after completing five years' service in the army, palace officials said Sunday. The prince, a former lieutenant and trainee Apache helicopter pilot, would now be known as Captain Harry Wales, St. James's Palace said in a statement.
