Woman admits racially aggravated abuse of diners outside kosher restaurant

A woman has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment after an incident outside Reuben’s kosher restaurant in central London, a court has heard.

Mary Clarke, 32, admitted the offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday in connection with a confrontation outside the popular kosher eatery on Baker Street in July.

The court was told that Clarke approached diners seated outside the restaurant and began aggressively accosting them. Footage of the incident, which later circulated on social media, showed her shouting at customers, throwing food in their direction and hurling a mobile phone onto the pavement.

Witnesses said Clarke questioned diners about the restaurant and their identity before the abuse escalated. The court heard the language she used during the incident, including: “Is this a Jewish cafe?”, “Free Palestine”, “I’m the only one saving babies”, “You Jews are killing us”, and “This is my country, I’m Irish”.

Clarke has been charged with three further offences in relation to the same incident, for which she has not yet entered pleas.

These include racially aggravated assault by beating, racially aggravated criminal damage relating to broken plates and glasses and racially aggravated threatening and abusive words or behaviour.

She was granted bail with conditions, including that she must not return to Reuben’s restaurant.

Clarke is due to be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 January.

A CST spokesperson told Jewish News: “We welcome the news that Mary Clarke has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment following her violent outburst towards innocent diners at a kosher restaurant in London. This was a deeply distressing incident for Jewish people simply trying to go about their lives, and it is one of many antisemitic attacks in which Jews have been subjected to hatred and abuse, with Israel wrongly used as an excuse. We hope the CPS seeks an appropriate sentence that reflects the seriousness of this crime.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism told Jewish News: “Mary Clarke’s unhinged diatribe and attack against Jewish people simply trying to dine at a kosher restaurant was abhorrent. Jews in Britain must not have to feel as though they may be attacked simply for going about their day. Incidents like this are why a majority of British Jews (58%) hide their Judaism. It is only right that Ms Clarke face the full force of the law for her repugnant actions.”