Facebook photo lands rioter in jail

London: An Irish man has been jailed after tagging himself in a photo on social networking website Facebook that showed him taking part in a riot, a media report said.

Robert Darragh, 21, kept his face covered so that he could not be identified in the CCTV footage. 

However, investigators looking through photos on social media sites from the riots found Darragh being tagged in a photo showing him participating in a riot during a clash between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland in July 2015, belfastlive.co.uk reported. 

After his arrest, Darragh told the police that he had been drinking heavily and could not remember throwing anything at police.

Belfast Crown Court sentenced Darragh to two years in jail. He will spend half his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence when he is released from custody.

At least 29 police officers were injured in the riot that took place during the Loyalist marching season last year. Police lines were pelted with masonery, bricks, bottles and other items, with one officer almost losing an ear.