A PAISLEY man has denied posting racist and offensive comments about Muslims on Facebook in the wake of the Manchester suicide bombing.

James Halkett is said to have made the comments, in which he also allegedly praised Hitler, on May 23 - just hours after Salman Abedi blew himself up at an Ariana Grande concert.

Abedi detonated a home-made nail bomb at the Manchester Arena, killing 22 people.

The day after the bomb was detonated, police launched an investigation after a Facebook user contacted them over comments they had seen on the social media site.

During the probe, Halkett was arrested and detained before appearing in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Halkett, 50, hobbled into the dock on crutches to face a single charge under Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

He was represented by defence solicitor Eamonn McGeehan, during the short hearing.

Prosecutors claim he behaved in a “threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm” by posting “offensive remarks.”

The charge against him states his alleged actions were “aggravated by religious prejudice” as per Section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Halkett denies posting the allegedly racist and offensive comments from his home in the town’s Bruce Road.

Procurator fiscal depute Tom Bowman asked for a trial and pre-trial hearing to be assigned.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew released Halkett on bail and adjourned the case until August.