“I hope it inspires others to stand against hate in all its forms”
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE PROVIDED
Former police officer Gordon Downey was sentenced today after subjecting serving police officer Paul Bloomer to two years of homophobic and transphobic abuse.
The case was heard at Coleraine Magistrates Court, Northern Ireland on 29 April 2025, by District Judge Peter King. Downey was sentenced today (9 May) to pay a £2,000 fine, £500 compensation order and was given a three year restraining order after pleading guilty to harassing Bloomer. During the two years of harassment, Downey posted hundreds of homophobic and transphobic posts online targeting Bloomer.
Bloomer is a prominent member of the LGBTQIA community in Northern Ireland, having served as Co-Chair of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) LGBT+ Network from 2017-2023 and sits as a trustee of Belfast Pride. He also set up a UK-wide intersectionality Working Group which aimed to improve representation of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority people in police LGBTQIA staff networks.
For two years, Downey submitted numerous complaints to PSNI’s Professional Standards Department about Bloomer. Online Downey posted hundreds of discriminatory posts about trans, Muslim and Black people, and his profile picture on X depicted a swastika composed of LGBTQIA pride flags.
Speaking after the sentencing, Bloomer said: “Gordon Downey subjected me to over two 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 and caused me significant harm.”
He continued: “I was targeted because I’m a queer person who stood up to advocate for the rights of LGBTQ people to be included and respected by policing institutions. Trans and non-binary people are some of the most vulnerable and 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 and vulnerable people. Hate must always be opposed.”
He went on to say that the case wasn’t just about criminal harassment, “it was about fighting to be yourself in public life”.
“I hope it inspires others to stand against hate in all its forms,” Bloomer added. “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 and report it, the strength to fight, and a community ready to stand with you. Our community supported me through this, and I’m so grateful for them.”
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