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Britain First leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen charged over behaviour in Northern Ireland

Paul Golding (left) and Jayda Fransen (right) arrive at Belfast Laganside courts on Thursday: PA
Paul Golding (left) and Jayda Fransen (right) arrive at Belfast Laganside courts on Thursday: PA

The two leaders of Britain First have been charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour following a rally in Belfast.

Leader Paul Golding was charged in relation to a speech he made at the Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally in August, police said.

Deputy leader Jayda Fransen, 31, appeared in court on Thursday on charges related to comments she made at the same rally.

She was re-arrested after court proceedings in relation to separate remarks she had made during a visit to a peace wall in Belfast on December 13.

Deputy leader Jayda Fransen was retweeted by Donald Trump this month (PA)
Deputy leader Jayda Fransen was retweeted by Donald Trump this month (PA)

She was later charged with using threatening behaviour in that incident and will appear in Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Under her bail conditions, she is not allowed to go within 500m of any demonstration or parade in Northern Ireland.

Mr Golding, 35, will appear at the same court on January 10.

Britain First was at the centre of a diplomatic storm earlier this month when Donald Trump retweeted three anti-Islam videos posted Ms Fransen.

Two featured violent scenes and were accompanied by unverified, inflammatory captions blaming Muslims.

Britain First said its membership had rocketed following the president’s backing and Ms Fransen sent him a video message thanking him for his support.