Wakeley church rioter Issa Haddad sentenced for involvement in riot, recording magistrate, spitting at media

A rioter involved in the manic scenes outside a Wakeley church after a bishop was stabbed has been sentenced for a series of threats as well as “abhorrent” conduct when he turned up to court.

A rioter involved in the Wakeley church mob who later spat at a cameraman covering him in court “needs help”, a magistrate has said.

Issa Haddad, 28, appeared in Fairfield Local Court from custody on Wednesday where he was sentenced to a three-month intensive correction order after pleading guilty to threatening people with violence.

Haddad, of Horningsea Park in southwest Sydney, was a part of the 2000-strong riot the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on the evening of April 15.

The chaos came in the hours after Bishop Mar Mari was stabbed, allegedly in a terror attack carried out by a radicalised teen.

The court heard Haddad said “Bro just put two into his head” and later “eye for an eye, eye for an eye” just metres from police.

“Bring him out, bring him f--king out,” Haddad yelled.

Haddad, who was charged after investigations by Strike Force Drib, fronted court on May 8, where he took a Snapchat of a magistrate with the caption “f--k this clown”.

About 2000 people were involved in the riot. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Outside court on the day, Haddad taunted the media, spat towards a 10 News cameraman and tripped over on the pavement.

He was charged with recording in court and common assault. He later pleaded guilty to both offences.

The court on Wednesday heard Haddad lived with an intellectual disability as well as multiple physical conditions including scoliosis.

Haddad’s lawyer submitted his client was “swept up by the crowd” outside the church, before telling the court he took Snapchat of a magistrate “not realising” he was not allowed to.

The court heard Haddad “acknowledges” he has anger management issues regarding his actions towards the media.

Magistrate Emma Manea said Haddad, in the sentencing assessment report, had shown “contrition and remorse” for his involvement in the church riot.

“For the other matters, ignorance is not a defence regarding recording His Honour,” she said.

“It is an offence to do so and it brings the whole system into disrepute. It is an open court, but there are reasons why this offence is put in place.”

Issa Haddad (right) outside Fairfield Local Court on May 8 with his father. Picture: Aymon Bertah

Regarding the incident outside court, Ms Manea said the cameraman was “doing their job”.

“The member of the public was doing their job … to report on events,” Ms Manea said.

“Spitting is an abhorrent act.”

Haddad was sentenced to a two-year community correction order for the latter offending and ordered to take up anger management.

“He needs help,” the magistrate said.

The court heard despite escaping a full-time prison sentence, Haddad will remain behind bars due to violence charges against two relatives.

Haddad had appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to choking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of intimidation.

The alleged offending occurred in June with the matter listed for hearing in September.

The ICO and CCO will begin once Haddad is released from custody.

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