former PSNI OFFICER guilty of lgbtq harrassment campaign

A former officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland has been found guilty of harassing a serving LGBTQ colleague over a prolonged two-year period. Gordon Downey, an outspoken anti-LGBTQ activist, targeted officer Paul Bloomer in a sustained campaign of homophobic abuse. Downey has been fined £2,000, ordered to pay £500 in compensation, and issued a three-year restraining order following his guilty plea

Anti LGBTQ activist and former Police Officer Gordon Downey has been sentenced after pleading guilty to harassing Paul Bloomer - a serving Police officer, between 27th August 2022 and 17th October 2024. The case was heard at Coleraine Magistrates Court, Northern Ireland on the 29th April 2025, by District Judge Peter King. Downey was sentenced in Coleraine Magistrates Court on 9th May 2025. Where Judge King ordered Downey to pay a £2000 fine, £500 compensation order and a 3 year restraining order, the Judge stated that a message needed to sent that online abuse can have significant impact on victims, he described Downey’s conduct as “lunacy”.

Paul is a serving Police Constable and prominent member of the LGBTQ community in Northern Ireland. Paul Bloomer served as Co-Chair of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) LGBT+ Network from 2017-2023, Communications Director of the UK National LGBT+ Police Network and a trustee of Belfast Pride. Paul also set up a UK wide intersectionality Working Group which aimed to improve representation of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority people in Police LGBT+ staff networks. Paul has spoken internationally at policing conferences in Europe and North America and is recognised as a leading figure in driving LGBTQ inclusion efforts in UK Policing.

Downey subjected Paul to over 2 years of homophobic and transphobic abuse. In the time he plead guilty to, Downey published hundreds of posts containing sickening homophobic and transphobic abuse targeted at Paul as well as submitting numerous complaints to PSNI’s Professional Standards Department. Downey also posted hundreds of discriminatory and inflammatory pieces of content about trans people, Muslim people and Black people, as well as misogynistic commentary. Downey’s profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) in 2023 depicted a swastika composed of ‘Progress’ LGBTQ pride flags, a symbol widely recognised as an attempt to mock and intimidate LGBTQ people.

In Court Downey was represented by a King’s Counsel. His defense was assisted by former PSNI Professional Standards Chief Inspector Jon Burrows. On his X account former CI Burrows has been a vocal defender of the PSNI, Burrows praised PSNI for their decision to withdraw from participation in LGBTQ Pride events. Burrows has described LGBTQ Pride events as “political and contentious”. Burrows has also voiced support for ‘gender critical’ positions.

Downey has links to the anti LGBTQ group Fair Cop run by Harry Miller, interacting with them across nearly 500 posts, many of them relating to Paul Bloomer. In 2020 Fair Cop promoted a social media campaign #SayYesToHate. Fair Cop Tweeted out supportive messages for Downey in October 2024 and in the days leading up to the court date. On the 26th April 2025 Fair Cop posted, “Next week, Harry is travelling to Belfast to help challenge the unhinged, government funded nob in the criminal court.” Miller did not appear in court on the day of Downey’s conviction.

Speaking after the sentencing Paul said, “Gordon Downey subjected me to over 2 years of homophobic abuse, this wasn’t just online, it was also through complaints made to my workplace, this left me feeling that I had nowhere safe & caused me significant harm. I firmly believe that Gordon

Downey did not act alone, and I’m calling on the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ensure that all individuals who aided or enabled his harassment are held accountable.

I was targeted because I’m a queer person who stood up to advocate for the rights of LGBTQ people to be included & respected by policing institutions. Trans & non-binary people are some of the most vulnerable & marginalised people in society, standing up for them has been the honour of my life, despite what I’ve been through I’ll never change my stance on defending marginalised & vulnerable people. Hate must always be opposed. In Northern Ireland we have had enough of hate, it has no place here anymore.

This case wasn’t just about criminal harassment; it was about fighting to be yourself in public life. Every LGBTQ person in Northern Ireland has the right to live & love openly, freely, and without fear. We are protected by law, and no one should face harassment or discrimination for being who they are. The LGBTQ community is built on love and we are survivors; we’ve faced hatred many times and we’re still here. By standing up, speaking out, and supporting one another, we ensure that love and justice prevail.

This victory over hate, belongs to the entire LGBTQ community, I hope it inspires others to stand against hate in all its forms. Justice is possible, but we must have the courage to demand it. If you are a victim of hate, know that you are not alone. You have the power to speak out & report it, the strength to fight, and a community ready to stand with you. My community supported me through this and I’m so grateful for them. Always remember this, the truth is great and shall prevail, love is the greatest truth of all and love always wins.”