Bigoted big sister threatened to ‘burn out’ her gay brother over family dispute – Belfast Telegraph
This is the homophobe who narrowly avoided jail after repeatedly calling her brother a “gaylord” and threatening to burn him out of his home during a heated dispute over family finances.
lana Campbell (39), of Fanad Drive on the Craigyhill Estate in Larne, also directed a number of homophobic slurs at her sibling Ryan Campbell on social media during the row earlier this year.
During a sentencing hearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court last month, District Judge Neil Broderick warned her any repeat of the behaviour could land her in jail.
She had earlier pleaded guilty to harassment, improper use of public electronic communications and making a threat to damage property after comments she made on social media earlier this year.
Alana Campbell (39) from Larne who directed homophobic abuse at her brother Ryan Campbell online
The posts on Facebook, which have been seen by Sunday Life, are mostly too offensive or defamatory to publish but included her saying Ryan had the “Devil” in him and repeatedly referred to him as a “gaylord”, among a host of homophobic slurs.
When approached about her offending, Campbell insisted she and her brother, also from Larne, had since made up after falling out over money.
She told our reporter: “It was just I fell out with my brother. We had a fall-out when my dad died in March.
“We got it all sorted now though and we’ve made up. Things are better now between us.”
Ballymena Magistrates Court heard last month that Alana Campbell made “despicable” comments about her brother on Facebook.
Prosecutors said Ryan Campbell was harassed and threatened by his sister online on August 1, with the posts shown to the police.
The court heard Alana Campbell used phrases including “gaylord” and other homophobic names and that the complainant “perceived this to be a hate crime due to his sexuality”.
The defendant also told her brother she would “burn him out”, leaving him fearful for his safety.
She had earlier admitted sending the messages and to posting publicly while naming her brother.
She told the police she “did it in a temper” and would not have carried out the threat to damage property because she had just wanted to “scare” him.
Her solicitor said Campbell concedes the comments were “totally unacceptable” but on the night she had been “very emotional”.
The judge said the comments were “quite despicable” and told the defendant she deserved to be jailed.
However, he deferred sentencing until next May and said if there was re-offending Campbell faced being placed behind bars.