Derek Drummond, Declan Geiran and Liam Riley’s lives have been left in turmoil but they only have themselves to blame
Until a few days ago, Liam Riley had barely so much as stumbled into the path of a police officer during his 41 years of life. Declan Geiran meanwhile was a young man who had endured struggles with his mental health, but had largely led an unremarkable existence.
Just over a week ago, Derek Drummond was a hard working family man who seemed to have put a chequered past behind him. Now, their lives have been turned upside down – and they have nobody but themselves to blame for it.
No doubt, all three would rewind the clock if they could. Drummond would take back the punch he threw at a police officer and the bricks he hurled after becoming embroiled within an outbreak of shocking violence in Southport. Geiran would retract his idiotic attempt to set a police van on fire during similarly riotous scenes in Liverpool city centre. Riley would continue drinking in Ranelagh’s Tavern or go home. rather than heading out into the street clad in a St George’s flag and branding PCs “traitors” and “Muslim lovers”.
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But it is far, far too late for them to do so. They are now beginning jail sentences measured in years in what must act as the strongest possible warning to anyone who finds themselves tempted, even for a split second, to involve themselves in any repeat of the ugly events seen across Merseyside last week.
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Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday: “This court will be aware of the public disorder across the country following the tragic events in Southport on the 29th of July. One such incident took place on Tuesday the 30th of July at St Luke’s Road in Southport.
“The focus was the town’s mosque. The incident lasted a number of hours. Some 50 officers were injured, with police vehicles being damaged. There was significant damage to residents’ properties and the mosque. It is estimated that a group of about 1,000 people were involved. There were chants of ‘this is our f***ing country’, ‘s***houses and scumbag b*****ds’. Officers responded and, as the disorder continued, more had to be drafted in.
“Constable [Thomas] Ball was deployed at about 7.15pm. He arrived with other officers and began to form a cordon. He saw what he described as an ever growing group of people. They were chanting and clearly aggressive. Chants of ‘I’m England till I die’ and ‘f***ing right, lets get into them’ were heard. Missiles rained down on the officers. Flash bangs were thrown at their feet. They managed to start to push people back. At that point, a chant of ‘who the f*** is Allah’ was heard. Tins of paint and wheelie bins were thrown.”
Mr Taylor then described how Drummond, of Pool Street in Southport, was seen shouting “s***houses” at around 8pm on the evening in question and was “told to get back” by officers. Instead, the 58-year-old punched PC Ball in the face.
A sergeant then responded by striking the thug with his baton. Drummond however remained at the scene and, around half an hour later, “fronted up to officers”.
He was said to have attempted to “attack and break through a cordon” before throwing a brick at the emergency service workers. After handing himself in at Copy Lane Police Station on August 3, he responded to his arrest by branding himself “a fool” and saying that he was “holding his hands up”.
Under interview, Drummond told detectives that he was “deeply sorry to the people he had let down”. He stated that he had attended a vigil following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar the previous day, but “accepted confronting the police” – adding that he “couldn’t offer any explanation” and that “tensions were very high”, but saying that his “behaviour was appalling”.
His criminal record shows 14 entries for 19 offences between 1988 and 2007, including a prison sentence for wounding at Preston Crown Court in 1994. Drummond’s counsel Lionel Greig said on his behalf: “The court is aware that the defendant handed himself into police. He has made full and frank admissions and expressed remorse.
“In his words: ‘I’m absolutely ashamed of how I’ve acted. I’ve left Southport down, I’ve let the kids down, I’ve let my family down’. He is appalled by his behaviour. He has now lost his employment. He deeply regrets his conduct towards the police. He is aware that an immediate sentence of imprisonment will be imposed.”
Mr Taylor also detailed how Geiran then formed part of a “large group of males” who “attacked and damaged” a police van which had been parked near to St George’s Hall, including attempting to tip the vehicle over, on Saturday. A video which was later posted on TikTok showed the 29-year-old, of Kelso Road in Kensington, beside the open driver’s window and setting a seatbelt on fire before smoke was seen billowing from the cab.
CCTV footage captured him thereafter “remaining at the scene” and “sitting casually on the fountain outside the Walker Art Gallery watching the police van”, which was written off as a result of damage caused during the incident. He then filmed the scenes on his mobile phone as he left the area.
Geiran was however arrested after being “easily identified by his backpack, clothing and tattoos”, with lighters being seized from him upon his detention. Under interview, he told detectives that he had attended the protests alone as he “wanted to show his support for the bereaved families”.
Mr Taylor added: “He stated that he saw the van and heard shouts of ‘burn the van’. He said he was told to burn a book under the seat. He didn’t, but set fire to the seatbelt.
“He stated that he felt under pressure and that he did not believe his actions had caused the damage. He stated that he had not gone out to act violently and denied any negative thoughts on immigration or political issues.”
Geiran has a total of 13 previous convictions for 18 offences between March 2011 and February 2024. These include matters of dishonesty, possession of drugs, breaching court orders and criminal damage.
He also served 10 months in a young offenders’ institute for burglary before being handed 21 months for possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs in May 2018. Geiran was then subjected to a community order in September last year for a malicious communications offence.
Brendan Carville, defending, told the court: “There is a temptation to make these defendants an example. They appear to be the first people to be sentenced for this violent conduct. It is to their credit that, a week or so down the line, we are here to sentence them, given their guilty pleas at the first opportunity. There is no suggestion of them being the protagonists or organisers of any violent disorder.”
Mr Carville said of Geiran: “He suffers from mental health issues. He has a diagnosis of emotional unstable personality disorder. He is a vulnerable person in his own right. He attended out of support for the victims of the Southport matter.
“He is not a clever man, not intellectually bright. He doesn’t understand what far right and far left means, he simply went along with the flow. He wasn’t masked. He wasn’t organised or equipped to do what he did.
“There he was sitting, as others walked away, on a fountain, unmasked, by himself. It speaks volumes of his involvement in the offence.” Mr Taylor meanwhile said in relation to Riley’s case: “This incident took place here in the city centre on Saturday the 3rd of August. Officers were deployed. At about 7pm, Sergeant David Peat was part of a closed cordon at Whitechapel and Church Street. Officers were subject to a torrent of missiles, including rocks and bricks. He was struck by a bottle.
“A shop window had been smashed. He described about 100 aggressive, chanting people moving towards that cordon. The cordon was ordered to move forward. Many of those acting in a disorderly manner moved back. However, this defendant moved towards officers. He was moving his arms around and shouting.”
Riley, of Walton Road, was said to have been “clearly drunk” and called one officer a “traitor and a Muslim lover”. While later being transported to Merseyside Police’s Wirral Custody Suite, he continued his tirade of abuse and “made a number of negative comments about immigrants and Muslims and made comments that both were to blame for the tragedy in Southport”.
He was subsequently found to be in possession of a poster bearing the message “this is our city”, having been wearing a St George’s flag around his neck during the incident. Under interview, Riley said that he “heard about a protest at the Pier Head and went to show solidarity and support for the bereaved parents”.
Having been moved on from the area, he then “went drinking in four or five bars” and “recalled a last pint at Ranelagh’s Tavern” before re-joining the crowds and “telling officers to put their batons down and go home”. Mr Taylor added: “The defendant said that he was not part of any particular group, he just followed the evolving situation.
“He could not explain why he returned, having been moved on from the Pier Head. He describes that he was on his own, but was well aware of the missiles being thrown. He stated that he did not like illegals coming over and did not provoke violence or threaten anyone.”
Mr Carville, who also represented Riley, added: “He is a loner, he lives alone. He came to the Pier Head in support for the victims of the Southport matter. Stupidly, he hung around. He went to a number of pubs. He is a man who has not had a drink for a long time. He got caught up in the crowd and became involved in these offences.
“He was not masked or a member of any organised political group, not understanding the concept of far right or far left. He had a poster thrust into his hands at the Pier Head. He is a very foolish man for becoming involved. He knows and accepts that he is going to receive an immediate sentence.”
Drummond pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency services worker and was handed three years behind bars. Geiran admitted violent disorder and arson and was locked up for 30 months.
Riley pleaded guilty to violent disorder and racially aggravated threatening behaviour and was jailed for 20 months. None of the defendants, who wore grey prison issue tracksuits in the dock, showed any reaction in the dock as they learned their fates.
Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: “You are each to be sentenced by me today for a variety of offences, arising out of the lawless public disorder which has taken place in Southport and Liverpool over the past week or so. Every decent member of the community affected by these events will have been appalled horrified and deeply disturbed by what has taken place in their neighbourhoods.
“On Monday the 29th of July, a little over a week ago now, many families in the town of Southport suffered devastating losses when three little girls were brutally killed and numerous other children and adults were seriously injured in a knife attack at a holiday dance class. While still shocked and bewildered by these terrible events, many residents in the town came together the following evening, on Tuesday the 30th of July, for a vigil in support of the grieving families.
“However, at the same time, there were others who saw these events as an opportunity to sow division and hatred and so published on social media and in printed leaflets false information about the nationality, ethnicity and supposed religion of the alleged attacker. Of course, all of this was complete nonsense. But, from that point on, it has been used as a pretext for widespread public disorder – beginning that night in Southport and escalating subsequently across the country, including in this city, Liverpool.
“On the evening of the vigil in Southport, the police thought that they would be joining with a community in mourning. By the end of the night, those same officers – some of whom had been present the previous day – were attempting to defend a part of the town and themselves in a pitched battle with a large and utterly lawless mob. It is estimated that there were about 1,000 so-called protesters, though quite what they were protesting about remains a mystery to many.
“This mob were using the most foul and racist abuse, uttering threats and insults directed towards the police and a nearby mosque. Over several hours, windows were smashed, walls were demolished and the recovered bricks were hurled time and again at the police who were doing nothing more than seeking to protect the community. A police vehicle was set on fire and the mosque was very badly damaged, as were other buildings in the area.
“Over 50 police officers were injured. This was large scale and very violent criminal activity, made much worse by the fact that it was happening only a day after entirely different and utterly tragic events. The genuine and collective grief of the residents of Southport was hijacked by this callous behaviour.
“Over the following days, there was similar public disorder across the country – including serious disturbances at various locations in Liverpool last Saturday, the 3rd of August. Rival protesters clashed, and there followed dreadful scenes of disorder, violence and destruction of property and many more police officers were injured.
“Southport is a town where families live and work and take pride in the closeness of such a supportive community. Liverpool is a dynamic city full of wonderful people who have worked hard to develop a reputation for creativity and enterprise. Your actions have disgraced and damaged the reputations of that town and this city.
“It has long been recognised that there is an obligation on sentencing courts to do what they can to ensure the protection of the public, whether in their homes or in their businesses or in the streets, and to protect the places where they live and work. In seeking to achieve this aim, the courts will typically impose severe sentences for offences involving or connected to large scale and violent public disorder, intended to provide both punishment and deterrence. Quite simply, those who deliberately participate in such disorder, causing injury damage and fear to communities will inevitably be punished with sentences designed to deter others from similar activity.
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“It matters not that a particular offender, voluntarily present at the scene of a disturbance, did not instigate the disorder or play a leading role or themselves throw a missile at the police or cause particular damage. As has often been observed in cases such as this, it is an unavoidable feature of mass disorder that each participant’s act, whatever it might have been when considered in isolation, is capable of stirring up and encouraging others to behave in a similar way, and that the harm to the public stems from the combined effect of what is done by everyone who is present.”
Turning to Drummond, Judge Menary said: “I accept that you are now deeply remorseful. Comparing your remorse now to how you were behaving on the night demonstrates that there is a much darker and different side to you.
“I cannot be sure that you were an instigator, but it is clear that you were on the frontline encouraging others. You participated willingly and enthusiastically.
“This was not mindless thuggery. You and every other defendant I am dealing with today made a choice to get involved.”
To Geiran, the judge said: “It may be that you then moved off and sat quietly by, no doubt admiring what you had done, but your combined efforts were part and parcel of this widespread disorder that was visited upon the city of Liverpool that day. On your arrest, you said, unbelievably, that you were there to show your support for the bereaved families.”
Judge Menary cited Geiran’s conviction for a malicious communications offence in September last year, which reportedly involved him sending messages to a woman in which he “threatened to come and get her and her children” and “threatened to travel to where she lived in the south of England and harm her”, and added: “The facts of that case are illuminating. That is the sort of brave and principled man you are.”
Finally, the judge told Riley: “It is very sad indeed that you should find yourself in this position. You are a man of previous good character. You have no previous convictions for any offence of violence. In your case, I am perfectly satisfied that it would not be proper to suspend any prison term. Only immediate custody is appropriate.”
