Three Cronulla riot accused refused bail

SYDNEY - Three men charged over a race riot at the beachside Sydney suburb of Cronulla have been refused bail.

Daniel Paul Kelly, 20, Danny Glen Shanahan, 20 and Samuel Murray, 19, faced Sutherland Local Court today charged with riot and affray.

The three are accused of being part of a mob that targeted people of Middle Eastern appearance in violent incidents at Cronulla beach on December 11.

Kelly and Shanahan applied for bail.

But Magistrate Ross Clugston remanded them both in custody for the protection of the community.

He said photographs tendered by the prosecution allegedly showed the pair "at the forefront" of a crowd of men attacking victim Safi Merhi in the street.

"It is necessary to refuse bail for the protection of the community," he said.

Legislative changes rushed through by the NSW parliament in December in the wake of the riot removed the presumption in favour of bail for those charged with riot and affray.

Kelly, from Engadine, and Shanahan, from Picton, are charged with one count each of riot and affray, will return to the same court on January 27 and 31 respectively.

Murray, of Barden Ridge, charged with two counts each of riot and affray, did not apply for bail and will face the same court again on January 23.

- AAP