Four Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers are currently on trial for affray following an altercation in a kebab shop in Belfast. The officers, three men and one woman, were off duty at the time and are denying the charges, stating that they acted in self-defense. Dean McCallum, Mark Fullam, Victoria Bell, and Taylor Annett, all stationed at PSNI Brooklyn in Knock, Belfast, appeared in Belfast Crown Court on Thursday. The incident in question took place in late January 2022 in Belfast city center on a Saturday night. The prosecution alleges that a customer, Graham McCullough, intervened in a situation between the officers and another individual, leading to a physical altercation.
During the trial, the officers presented their side of the story. McCallum testified that they were in a good mood after a night of drinking when McCullough aggressively confronted them. McCallum claimed that McCullough headbutted him, prompting efforts to restrain him, as he became increasingly violent. Bell stated that she was trying to help her friends when she was attacked by McCullough, leading her to use force in self-defense. Fullam expressed feeling shocked and fearful during the incident, explaining that he tried to defend himself against McCullough, who he described as extremely strong. Annett testified that he sustained a broken nose and was also acting in self-defense, attempting to de-escalate the situation.
The officers maintained that they were acting in self-defense and denying the prosecution’s characterization of the incident as a drunken brawl. They described their actions as necessary to protect themselves and their friends in the face of escalating violence.
“Like his three co-accused, Mr. Annett rejected suggestions that the force he used was disproportionate and excessive. Police interviews revealed that all four officers maintained they acted in self-defense following an incident one month prior. Mr. McCallum recounted during his interview that while eating their food after a night out, Mr. McCullough shouted at the group and then became aggressive. McCallum admitted to punching McCullough multiple times in the face, stating he was attempting to de-escalate the situation. Mr. Fullam, in his interview, shared that he intervened after witnessing his colleague being headbutted, feeling the situation was escalating. Mr. Annett acknowledged during his interview that he punched Mr. McCullough in the struggle, asserting that his actions were justified and proportionate. Ms. Bell informed the police that she believed Mr. McCallum was assaulted first and that the force she used was necessary. The trial is ongoing.”
