Prominent Northern Ireland loyalist David ‘Dee’ Stitt has been refused bail after appearing in court charged with publishing material with the intent of stirring up hatred.
Stitt, 53, from Bangor, was arrested at Belfast City Airport after arriving on a flight on Thursday evening.
Appearing in the dock of Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday dressed in a grey sweater, Stitt, from Lord Warden’s Court, said “not guilty” after he confirmed that he understood the charge.
PSNI detective constable told district judge Steven Keown that he could connect the accused to the single charge of publishing written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting with the intent of stirring up hatred or arousing fear.
The charge relates to a single post on Facebook on July 31 where Stitt shared a copy-and-pasted call for protests across Northern Ireland in response to the murder of three young girls in Southport.
The court heard that the post urged people to bring the country to a “standstill” and listed several protest times and venues in Northern Ireland and advised demonstrators to ensure women and children were at the front of the events.
