PEI Man Faces Province’s First Hate Crime Charge for Alleged Antisemitic Posts: RCMP

A 25-year-old Prince Edward Island man is facing what the RCMP are describing as the first hate crime charges laid in the province after a lengthy investigation into “anti-Semitic” social media posts.

Matthan Runighan has been charged with public promotion of hatred against Jews and wilful promotion of anti-Semitism in connection with the investigation, the RCMP said in a Dec. 23 press release.

The RCMP said the investigation was launched earlier this year after it received several complaints about social media posts.

The initial investigation led police to execute a “public safety” warrant at a P.E.I home where police said officers seized a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition.

Runighan was arrested and charged with four firearm offences, including illegal possession of a firearm on Aug. 7 in connection with the search.

He was released on conditions which police allege he breached three times in August and September. He was arrested in September and was released by the court after a remand hearing, the RCMP said.

He was arrested again on Oct. 10 for allegedly breaching his conditions in connection with what the RCMP called “posting hate online.” He was remanded into custody and was again charged with breach of his conditions.

Additional charges were approved against Runighan on Dec. 23 and he now faces one charge each of public promotion of hatred toward Jews and wilful promotion of anti-Semitism. The charges approved by the attorney general are connected to the online posts, police said.

The RCMP said the distinction between freedom of speech and a hate crime in Canada is determined by the balance between an individual’s right to self-expression and the need to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

Police said charges were laid against Runighan “with public safety in mind.”

“The recent attacks in Australia clearly show the impacts of hate motivated crime,” P.E.I. RCMP commanding officer Chief Supt. Kevin Lewis said in the press release. “In the Runighan case, an extensive investigation was conducted that has led to what I believe are the first ever hate crime charges in PEI. Promotion of hatred is a toxic, dangerous, and hurtful crime that deeply impacts our communities.”

Runighan is to appear in court on Jan. 13 to answer to the hate charges as well as the four breach charges and four firearm charges.