Brothers sentenced over intimidating young mother

Two brothers have been sentenced after they were caught on camera trying to force open the door of a young mother's home while one shouted sectarian abuse.

Adrian Douglas, 35, of Carrick Drive in Lurgan, County Armagh, was handed 10 months in prison.

Alister Douglas, 38, of Charles Baron Gardens, was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

Adrian Douglas, will spend another 10 months on licence after serving his jail term.

Warning: Report contains language some readers may find offensive

The victim, Danielle Skelton, who was at home alone with her 18-month-old son at the time of the incident, later said she was advised by police to leave the property.The 999 call she made was played to court during the case, and the judge said that her distress was "palpable".

She explained that she had moved into a largely-Protestant area of Lurgan after being offered social housing.

The court heard the brothers had been watching a Rangers vs Celtic football match before going to Ms Skelton's home on 30 April last year and the incident had been fuelled by alcohol.

Handing down the sentence, Patrick Lynch KC said: "Sectarianism has bedevilled our community for centuries and it is a tragedy that atavistic hatreds still emerge as it seems in this case through the raw emotions defeat in a Scottish football match fuelled by alcohol.

"It must be made clear that the courts will impose severe sentences to emphasise that such expressions of hostility through violence, threat of violence or other methods of intimidation will not be tolerated."The video was widely-shared on social media, and shows the two men banging on the door of the house and shouting sectarian insults.The men shouted "Fenian" and "taig", derogatory terms referring to Catholics, as well as hammering and kicking at the door.

Despite a female family member repeatedly telling Adrian Douglas that his children and nieces and nephews were watching him, he continued banging on the door.On spotting the doorbell camera, Alister Douglas tried to prise it off the door frame.Adrian Douglas admitted an intimidation charge, while Alister Douglas admitted aiding and abetting his brother.

In Ms Skelton's victim impact statement she said her life had been impacted in a number of ways.

She said moving was stressful and then she was left feeling unsafe and forced to move out.

"I have still been left with high level of stress and anxiety," she wrote.

"I am petrified to leave my current home... I have a heart condition exacerbated with stress and anxiety.

"My son has been impacted he hasn't been able to sleep in his own bedroom and is startled by loud noises."