Pair ‘stirred up racial hatred’ migrant hotel protest Facebook posts

As previously reported, Christopher Taggart and Rhys McDonald were handed immediate jail terms when they appeared before Chester Crown Court today, Tuesday.

This came after they admitted publishing posts, described by Cheshire Police as ‘racist’, on Facebook ‘to stir up and encourage racial hatred’.

The posts called for people to protest outside Daresbury Park Hotel, which has been closed to the public for a number of years in order to accommodate migrants.

On Monday, August 5, Cheshire Police became aware of concerning messages that were openly available to view on Facebook, posted by both Taggart and McDonald.

This included ‘multiple posts containing racial abuse and encouraging people to engage in racial hatred’.

Taggart posted these messages between July 29 and August 6, while 34-year-old McDonald posted between July 29 and August 5.

Prosecutor Jane Morris told Chester Crown Court: “The offending must be viewed in the context of the widespread and extensively reported scenes of disorder, violence and criminal damage which have taken place around the country – beginning in Southport and spreading to other locations.”

Christopher Taggart and Rhys McDonald have been jailed (Image: Cheshire Police)

On July 30, Taggart posted: “Who’s up for a rally?”

McDonald replied: “Need to march on the Daresbury Hotel with torches and pitchforks. Enough is enough.”

Taggart responded: “All ready (sic) started to ask ppl.”

Another Facebook user asked: “What’s the rally all about?”

Taggart said: “To get them gone. We don’t want them.”

On August 4, McDonald wrote: “They need to protest at the hotels where these animals are living. No good in Liverpool city centre. Get to the Daresbury.”

One person commented: “Daresbury Hotel needs to go.”

The pair made Facebook posts about Daresbury Park Hotel (Image: Google Maps)

A day later Taggart posted: “We don’t want them here. F**k em. They started we will end it. All of this wouldn’t have happened if they shut the boarders (sic).”

One person posted a fire emoji in response.

From their online profiles, officers worked to identify and locate the pair, and they were subsequently arrested on Saturday, August 10.

Upon arrest, police searched the Caesars Close home of 36-year-old Taggart and officers located a knuckleduster.

McDonald made no comment to police while Taggart claimed to have ADHD which caused impulsive actions and said he did not mean anything he posted.

The two men were ultimately charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, to which they pleaded guilty, while Taggart also admitted possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

Miss Morris said: “The police’s presence and patrols increased as a result of the posts and these have remained in place.

They were sentenced at Chester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

“The offence is clearly aggravated by the defendants’ efforts to plan an event designed to stir up hatred, as well as by the timing of the incident and the sensitive social climate.”

The court heard Taggart has previous convictions for public order offences, while McDonald had a previous conviction for a public order offence when he was a youth.

Taggart was jailed by judge Steven Everett for 32 months, while McDonald, of Oxford Road, was sentenced to 28 months immediate imprisonment.

The sentences handed down by the courts were welcomed by chief superintendent Alison Ross, of Cheshire Police.

She said: “Since the start of the recent disorder in other areas of the UK, we have been clear that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Cheshire, including those who post racial abuse online.

“Much of the violent disorder which has taken place across the UK in recent weeks has been fuelled by malicious communications online – something which Taggart and McDonald decided to take part in.

“But they were not able to hide behind their devices and online accounts – they were soon identified and are now being held accountable.

“This should serve as a stark reminder against posting abusive messages online – we are all responsible for our actions, including what we post on social media.”