A drunken mother who yelled antisemitic abuse at diners at a famous kosher deli in central London while shouting “free Palestine” has been spared jail.
Segments of Mary Clarke’s attack on customers at Reubens Cafe and Bakery were caught on camera during her antisemitic blast.
Ms Clarke, who had been out binge drinking, accused families while they ate their food in Reubens of “killing babies” before exclaiming “free Palestine”.
One diner can be heard in the footage alleging that Ms Clarke had broken their phone by launching it on the floor, and “said something about Jewish”.
The drunken woman screams in the clip: “I’m from f***ing Ireland” before throwing food over the diners.
She then walked off, continuously yelling, before approaching a group of men at a table next door to the cafe.
Prosecuting Rhianne Neil said: “The defendant walked by and approached the table.
“Clarke started shouting ‘free Palestine’ and walked away before returning to the table.”
Mary Clarke was spared jail after her antisemitic outburst
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The prosecutor said Ms Clarke then exclaimed: “I’m Irish, this is my country, I’m the only one saving babies these Jews are killing.”
Ms Neil read a witness statement from Reuben’s manager, Simmy Grover, who described the incident as “abusive, alarming and distressing”.
Ms Clarke from Camden earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated harassment, one count of racially aggravated criminal damage and one count of racially aggravated common assault.
The mother appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, being defended by Jacqui Joseph.
The incident occurred outside Reubens Cafe and Bakery
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Miss Joseph said: “She is totally mortified by her behaviour, she totally accepts her responsibility.
“She’d lost her mother, who she’s very close to, a year prior to that. She was, in essence, binge drinking. She was under the influence of alcohol.”
The court was told that Ms Clarke “resides alone with her four-year-old son” and is “actively seeking work” while on benefits.
District Judge Sam Gozee told Clarke: “You targeted the cafe, clearly knowing that it was part of the Jewish community, and made comments of a distressing nature to those who were simply enjoying the cafe.
Ms Clarke appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
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PA“This was a sustained attack. You caused distress to multiple persons who were present at the cafe, and as I’ve said, there was clearly an element of targeting.
“The offence was more serious because it was committed under the influence of alcohol. Your behaviour was a response to your consumption of alcohol, inhibiting your behaviour.”
Ms Clarke nodded throughout in the dock, as the judge described her remorse as “clearly very genuine towards all the members of the public that were affected by your behaviour of the day”.
Judge Gozee added: “Racial aggravation is the predominant motivation of these offences. I consider that that means a custodial sentence is appropriate for these offences.”
The judge suspended Ms Clarke’s sentence in the interests of her young child, for whom she is the sole carer.
She was sentenced to 25 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, during which period she will be supervised by probation.
She was also mandated to participate in an alcohol abstinence programme and will be fitted with a tag to track her alcohol intake.
Ms Clarke was further ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the victims of assault and £43.50 to the cafe to cover the cost of the items she damaged.
The mother told the judge she understood and thanked him for suspending her sentence.