Friday 20 August 2010

Protest outside 'terrorism' court case


ANGRY protesters have blocked the entrance to a court in Derry where an Irish republican faced a bizarre terrorism charge.

Gary Donnelly, 39, is accused of ' having a mobile phone that was used for purposes connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism', reports the Belfast Telegraph.

The police (RUC) allege a phone call to a journalist claiming responsibility for two pipe bomb attacks by the Real IRA had been traced to Mr Donnelly's phone.

His supporters point out that this sort of call would hardly be made on someone's own phone and add that the journalist specifically said it was not Mr Donnelly's voice.

They say the whole case is nothing but a set-up by the British state and blatant political intimidation of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, of which Mr Donnelly is part, and radical republicanism in Northern Ireland as a whole.

The protesters held placards referring to the "Internment by Demand" and chanted "SS RUC" at police outside.

The district judge rejected the police's call for bail to be refuse and released Mr Donnelly to appear again on September 20.