Easter march trouble linked to New IRA, court told

A police officer has linked the New IRA to trouble that took place during a dissident republican parade in Londonderry on Monday.

The officer was giving evidence as Thomas Moore, 55, of Farren Park, Derry, appeared at the city’s magistrates court on Thursday on three charges linked to the parade.

He is accused of managing a meeting in support of the IRA, aiding and abetting wearing clothing or articles as a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation and failing to comply with conditions imposed by the Parades Commission.

Mr Moore, who was described as a security employee, was released on his own bail of £500 after the judge said he did not accept the police grounds for opposing it.

Earlier, a detective inspector opposed bail due to the risk of interference with witnesses and the risk Mr Moore could flee the jurisdiction.

The police witness said he could connect the accused to the charges.

He told Deputy District Judge Brian Archer that “a large proportion of the marchers” at the Easter Monday commemoration were wearing paramilitary-style uniforms.

The police witness said the defendant was identified as wearing an ear piece and seemed to be organising some of the masked men at the starting point of the march.

The court was told there was disorder during and after the march with 50 petrol bombs and fireworks thrown at the police.

The officer said the violence was “highly likely orchestrated by the New IRA to distract police”.

He said that at the march a gazebo had been erected and the defendant could be seen directing the masked men towards that.

Several people with umbrellas could be seen outside the gazebo and the officer said that they were trying to conceal people’s identity from police and cameras.

The court was told that the police believed the gazebo was being used for people to change out of uniforms and afterwards people could be seen leaving with large green plastic bags which were seized by police and found to contain uniforms.

Mr Moore was then said to have dismantled the gazebo and placed it in a can belonging to the security firm he worked for and drove away before being arrested, the police witness continued.

Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said his client had no relevant record and was a married man with close ties to the community.

He said that Mr Moore had been in the security industry for the past 35 years and had provided security for “all sorts of events”, including Halloween, the Clipper maritime festival and President Bill Clinton’s visit to the city.

The solicitor said the defendant was named on the application to the Parades Commission after “a long and convoluted process”.

He said Mr Moore had often liaised with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in his role as a steward.

Deputy District Judge Brian Archer said he would grant bail as he did not accept the risk to witnesses or the risk of fleeing the jurisdiction.

He set bail at £500 and made it a condition that Mr Moore does not attend or participate in any republican parade.

Following the granting of bail, a prosecutor said they would be appealing that decision and the judge told said they had two hours to lodge that appeal.

Mr Moore will appear again on 22 May.