Armagh man sentenced over death threats to New Zealand PM and London Mayor

By Q Radio news

An Armagh social media ‘monster’ who made online death threats to the New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and London mayor Sadiq Khan, has been sentenced to 100 hours community service. 

An emotional, Matthew Burns (20) of Dundalk Road, Newtownhamilton appeared at Newry magistrates court, wearing a blue shirt and glasses to be sentenced on multiple charges as a teenager. 

The accused’s parents were in court in support of their son.

Burns, who previously had no record, pleaded guilty to five counts of improper use of electronic communications, with messages of a menacing and grossly offensive nature on dates from June 14, 2018 to March 20, 2019.

Prosecution outlined the background to the case, which began when the New Zealand authorities alerted the PSNI cybercrime unit to Twitter death threats made against their prime minister, following the Christchurch massacre. 

Over 50 people were shot dead at two mosques in the city in March 2019, in bloody scenes broadcast around the world.

A Twitter message to the prime minster Ardern was made by Burns directly after the terrorist attack with a photo of a gun and silencer, tagged with the statement “You’re next”.

The New Zealand premier replied to the ‘tweet’ condemning the attacks in her country.

Burns was also convicted of threatening the mayor of London, Sadiq Kahn and his wife with the social media threat, “it would be a shame if something happened to her…like a bullet in the head and him too”. 

When arrested, Burns was taken to Banbridge PSNI station for questioning. 

During interview, he fully accepted the charges and admitted to having “far right wing” political leanings, being homophobic and xenophobic in nature.

Defence barrister, Kevin Magill alluded to a pre-sentence report and multiple medical reports both prior and post the offending dates, showing poor mental health of his client.

“His mother was concerned even before the offending and sought help from a GP and other services for her son,” said defence.

“Steps were taken by his family using private services. They were not preparing reports for court, but aiming to address his issues.

“Three doctor reports now suggest therapeutic work to resolve his issues, which I will open fully to open court.

“He does accept the serious nature of the offending, but they need to be contextualised.

“He has a myriad of issues, which are now being dealt with,” added the barrister.

District judge Eamonn King spoke at length to Burns in light of the recommendations of the New Zealand authorities and the “lack of self-esteem” of the social media misuser, who became tearful in the dock.

“As a result of a complaint made to the PSNI cyber unit by the New Zealand authorities, the police arrived at your door,” said Mr King.

“Very quickly afterwards it was found that it wasn’t just a one off and that you had been doing such social media activity from 2016 onwards with Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook.

“In the reports presented to the court on your behalf, there are issues that give me a sense of concern.

“You have feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

“When you put offensive comments online you are met with a blizzard of responses and engagement. That increases your feeling of self-worth. You feel more important.

“Someone is listening to you and it increases your self-esteem, so you then say something even more outrageous and that escalates and escalates. 

“For a complaint on social media you get taken off for 20 or 30 minutes then after that 30 days. It is like a badge of honour on these platforms. 

“You can report, ‘I was banned’ and that pumps you up.

“I can understand that if there are issues in real life that you don’t get a buzz in real life, you hope to get it on social media, and what happens…you create a monster,” exclaimed the judge. 

“The New Zealand authorities do not want you to be prosecuted, but spoken to, so that you understand the impact of the comments you made…isn’t that a very compassionate and Christian thing to do. 

“If I may have an opinion, this is the perfect example of when Facebook and Twitter should not be allowed to self-regulate, there should be more severe consequences.

“I will impose an enhanced combination order (ECO), that will get you out from behind your smartphone and iPad, for you to engage with people, you will then see the impact you make with people in front of your own eyes,” added Mr King.

Burns was also put on one year probation as part of his ECO.

“If you do not do complete it, you will be brought back to court for a custodial sentence,” warned the magistrate.