Anti-mosque protester Phillip Galea fined for possessing flare at Bendigo rally
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A Melbourne man convicted of possessing a flare at an anti-mosque rally in Bendigo has vowed to attend further protests if they are organised.
True Blue Crew member Phillip Galea, 31, pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing a distress signal without reasonable excuse, contrary to dangerous goods and explosives regulations.
Outside court, the Braybrook man denied police suggestions he was part of the United Patriots Front, a movement that opposes immigration.
"They're just trying to portray the image that we're a group of criminals, we're dangerous to be around when the opposite it true in most cases," he said.
Reclaim Australia rallies last year saw protestors clash with supporters of proposals for Bendigo's first mosque, which has since been given the all clear to be built.
Leading Senior Constable Karl Mannes told the Bendigo Magistrates' Court police thought Galea had a knife at the anti-mosque rally last October.
But instead officers said they located a flare in his pocket.
'Flares dangerous in the wrong hands'
Galea told police he got the distress signal from his friend's boat "in case he got jumped".
But Senior Constable Mr Mannes described the potential risk of the signal to the court.
"It burns 1,600 degrees Celsius when ignited," he said.
Magistrate Peter Mithen highlighted the dangers of flares if they get into the wrong hands.
The court heard Galea was facing an appeal in the County Court for an unrelated matter in Melbourne next month.
Magistrate Mithen convicted Galea and fined him $1,000 to be paid after his separate appeal.
"I'm unemployed, I don't make much money," Galea told the court.
But Galea told reporters he would come to Bendigo again if another anti-mosque rally was organised to offer support.
Topics: courts-and-trials, bendigo-3550, vic, melbourne-3000
