Man jailed over sectarian pipe bomb act at inclusive new GAA club

He has been sentenced.

John Wilson, 59, was convicted in September and sentenced on December 10.

East Belfast GAA club in Co Down was established during the pandemic in 2020, as an organisation inclusive of all backgrounds.

But after bringing in members from both the Catholic and Protestant communities, it received pushback from loyalists.

According to a report from RTÉ, "pipe bomb type devices" had been left on the windscreens of cars, and graffiti was sprayed on the changing room walls.

Det Sergeant McVeagh said: "In all cases, those who had the objects left on their vehicles felt intimidated, and that this was an attempt to stop the team training at the playing fields.

"John Wilson was arrested on 6 August. Despite CCTV footage showing him entering the public phone box from which the call was made, he denied that he had made the call and instead claimed he was on his way to a local takeaway.

"He continued to deny any involvement in this matter until much later, when he changed his story to state that he had made the phone call, under threat from people he feared might harm his family. He maintained that he had not left the objects on the vehicles.

"Examination of Wilson's phone uncovered incriminating and sectarian messages.

"There is no place in our society for any action motivated by hate. Had these pipe bombs exploded, they could have caused significant damage – not to mention injury, or worse.

"Substantial disruption was caused in the community and the victims were left shaken and scared when all they were doing was taking part in a sporting activity they loved."