Boxes full of a religious pamphlet found in a Belfast man's home were allegedly intent on stirring up hatred towards immigrants, a court heard today.
Police claimed some copies of the publication seized from 58-year-old Glen Kane’s house along with loyalist paramilitary and far-right items may already have been given out to others.
Kane, of Riga Street in the Shankill area, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court over the discovery made on Saturday as part of the investigation into racially-motivated disorder in the city.
He was granted bail on a charge of possession of threatening, abusive or insulting written material for distribution with intent to stir up hatred or fear.
The court heard police seized a UVF flag, badges and picture, an LVF flag, a UFF snood, two Britain First hats and a key tag, and a British National Party DVD from Kane’s home.
Officers also discovered approximately 100 copies of an unnamed publication which made references to the UK’s "immigration crisis".
An investigating detective expressed concerns about religious commentary contained in the pamphlet.
"There are some aspects of the publication which are considered to be threatening, abusive or insulting, and appear calculated to stir up hatred or arouse fear of immigrants of a particular faith if distributed and read by members of the public," she claimed.
"The presence of 100 copies would be attributable to a volume for distribution."
Kane has not been charged over any of the paramilitary or far-right political items recovered.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan was told that both the BNP and Britain First have carried out campaigns against multiculturalism.
During interviews Kane admitted attending a gathering at City Hall on 3 August, insisting he went alone to "have a look" and denied any involvement in the subsequent rioting which has blighted the city.
He claimed two boxes of the undisclosed publication were left on his doorstep by an unknown individual several weeks before.
Since then the defendant had examined some of the content, but planned to read the rest of it when he finished another book, according to his account.
But the detective alleged: "There appears to have been a number of publications removed… we suspect they have already been distributed."
She revealed that a quantity of ammunition was also located in the searches, with the defendant providing an explanation that it had been purchased at a military fair in Bangor, Co Down a number of years ago.
Challenging the evidence to charge his client, defence solicitor Keith Gamble argued that the booklet was published by a legitimate Northern Ireland-based religious organisation with a registered charity number and easily available online for downloading.
"The author’s name is on it, this is not a handwritten, bizarre manifesto of some description," he said.
Mr Gamble submitted that religious commentary which others may not approve of was insufficient for a charge of stirring up hatred.
He suggested the material found in Kane’s home was "akin to a glorified tract".
After studying the publication, Mr Ranaghan held there was enough evidence to connect Kane to the charge.
"It might be a legal publication, but its content is clearly aimed at stirring up some form of hatred.
"That content is at the very least insulting, and is at the very least aimed at one particular part of society," he stated
"This is an open society and all should be free to live in an open society."
Bail was opposed due to what the detective described as a "huge spike in public disorder with racial undertones" across the city, with attacks on police, businesses belonging to ethnic backgrounds and hotels with migrant occupants.
However, Mr Gamble stressed that Kane is not accused of taking part in any of the disorder.
"This man wants no part in it," the solicitor added.
Granting bail under strict conditions, Mr Ranaghan emphasised the courts' policy that anyone allegedly involved in the unrest is to be kept in custody.
But he held that a potential risk of public disorder was insufficient reason to warrant Kane’s continued detention.
He banned the accused from Belfast city centre or attending any unlawful protests or marches.
Proceedings against Kane were adjourned until 9 September.
