Taxi driver cleared of encouraging social media followers to murder Home Secretary

Andrew McIntyre posted an ‘unpleasant rant’ about Yvette Cooper MP online amid violent scenes on Merseyside

A man has been cleared of allegations that he encouraged his followers to murder Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP in posts on social media.

Andrew McIntyre, of Cousins Lane in Rufford, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday charged with two counts of encouraging or assisting an offence following violent scenes across Merseyside in the summer.

Disturbances flared in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the seaside town. Charge sheets had alleged that the 39-year-old published “electronic communications which were capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of one or more offences of murder” and “capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of one or more offences of violent disorder and criminal damage” between July 28 and August 8 this year.

McIntyre, who the ECHO understands works as a taxi driver, yesterday pleaded guilty to the latter count and a further offence of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to a “folding pocket knife” found upon his arrest on Smithdown Road. But Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, told the court of the charge of encouraging murder: “While there are comments on social media concerning actions to be taken against the Home Secretary, that in itself does not support the allegation in count one because the requirement is that there has to be a genuine belief that any such actions would be carried out.

“There is a clear distinction between what might be termed a rant, however unpleasant it is, and messages which clearly incite criminal activity to take place. There is undoubtedly clear, and the crown would say overwhelming, evidence in relation to the offences of violent disorder and criminal damage being carried out.

“However, that is not the case in relation to count one. In those circumstances, having carefully considered the matter, a decision has been taken to ask the court to lie that count on the file.”

Judge Neil Flewitt KC accepted this application and remanded McIntyre into custody ahead of his sentencing on January 6. Addressing the delay until this date, defence counsel Julian Nutter said: “On any view, he is going to be where he is for some time.”

The judge meanwhile told the defendant: “There will inevitably be an immediate and significant prison sentence. How long it will actually be, I will decide when I have had all of the information.”

McIntyre nodded and blew a kiss to his parents in the public gallery before being led down to the cells. The same court heard during an earlier appearance in August that he was accused of being the “administrator of an online group” and “encouraged followers of that group to commit murder and to take part in disorder”.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was due to stand trial in February next year. McIntyre will also appear in court for a mention hearing on December 19.

Liverpool Echo