A 25-year-old man from Prince Edward Island is facing charges related to the promotion of hatred and antisemitism, as well as multiple firearms offenses, according to the RCMP. The investigation into Matthan Runighan began earlier this year following several complaints about his alleged social media posts. Authorities discovered that Runighan had allegedly shared antisemitic content, leading to hate crime charges being brought against him.
Chief Supt. Kevin Lewis, commanding officer of the P.E.I. RCMP, highlighted the rarity of such charges and emphasized the impact of hate-motivated crimes on communities. He referenced a recent mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia to underscore the seriousness of the issue. Lewis emphasized that promoting hatred is a harmful and dangerous crime that affects society deeply.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Runighan had unlawfully obtained a firearm. On August 7, RCMP executed a warrant at his residence, where they seized a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition. Runighan was initially charged with various firearms-related offenses and released on conditions. However, he breached those conditions multiple times, leading to subsequent arrests.
Subsequent to his arrest on October 10 for violating his release conditions by posting hate speech online, Runighan has been in custody. He is scheduled to appear in P.E.I. Supreme Court on January 13 to face charges related to breaching his release conditions and the firearms offenses.
Additionally, new charges were filed against Runighan on Tuesday following an extensive investigation into his social media activities. He now faces charges of publicly promoting hatred towards Jews and willful promotion of antisemitism. The RCMP stressed the importance of balancing freedom of speech with protecting vulnerable groups from harm, noting that charges against Runighan were made with public safety in mind. His next court appearance regarding the hate crime charges is also scheduled for January 13.