I bet you thought this only happened in China and Zimbabwe. It could never happen in Britain...

Belfast blogger Alan Murray has apparently been cautioned by police twice last year and then arrested over for content posted on his blog, Holylands Warzone, in which he criticised a public figure. The blog documents the "raping of the Holylands" by greedy landlords letting out houses of multiple occupancy to the scummiest students.

He also received a beating from the boyfriend of an Andersonstown News Group reporter he had criticised and had a public row with. He alleges that the reporter's father, a Sinn Fein member, was present when the kicking was dispensed and intimidated witnesses who were videoing the incident.

Malachi O'Doherty has a synopsis from the horse's mouth.

Follow up:

The following is a cut-down version of Alan's description of the events, all from 2007.

1. (10th May) Alan responds to article "by" Katrina O'Neill in the South Belfast News.

3. (apprx. 27th May) Row breaks out between Alan and Katrina O’Neill at a residents’ meeting. 16 days later Katrina makes a complaint to the police.

4. (29th May) Alan passes Katrina O’Neill in the street.

5. (2nd June) Alan claims he was assaulted by the boyfriend of Katrina O’Neill at 4pm and that Bernard O’Neill, "father of Katrina and member of Sinn Fein ... intimidated witnesses who were filming the incident". Alan further claims that police dissuaded him from pressing charges and then caution him over his previous altercation with Katrina.

6. (4th June) Police caution Alan for criticising David Farrell on the internet.

7. (2nd July) Alan is arrested for criticising David Farrell on the internet. One article is the one linked in point six, the other is Failure of Regeneration.

8. (26th August) Alan publishes Tony Comes Out of Closet and is later cautioned for harassment.

9. (19th September) Alan publishes Katrina wakes up and smells the coffee. A week later he is arrested and charged with harassment against Katrina O’Neill.

Hat-tip to Slugger O'Toole.