Judge says hearings not to be commented on social media

The judge in the trial involving loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has warned defendants in the case not to be commenting on the hearings on social media.

One of the lawyers complained about a defendant providing “live commentary” on Twitter.

Des Fahy KC said it was improper and complained to the judge.

Judge Gordon Kerr KC said he agreed “100%” and said if it was happening it should stop.

The exact contents of the alleged social media post and the name of the account concerned were not mentioned in court.

Mr Fahy is representing one of three men on trial, Thomas O’Hara.

The case centres on a meeting of the Finance Committee at Stormont in September 2015.

It is alleged that how evidence was presented was manipulated.

The prosecution say that in advance of the hearing, private messages were exchanged between Mr Bryson, the Sinn Féin chair of the committee Daithí McKay and Mr O’Hara, who was a non-elected Sinn Féin member at the time.

Mr Bryson, 35, from Rosepark, Donaghadee, denies a charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Mr O’Hara, 41, from Lisnahunshin Road, Cullybackey, denies the same charge.

Mr McKay, 43, from Loughan Road, Dunnamanagh, denies a charge of misconduct in public office.

The prosecution say they were involved in an attempt to subvert the rules of the committee, in order to cause “considerable political embarrassment” to a number of people including the then First Minister Peter Robinson.

The Finance Committee hearing was about how Northern Ireland property loans were handled by the National Asset Management Agency, known as Nama.

At the start of day six of the trial, Mr Fahy raised the issue of social media posts by an unnamed defendant.

He said the reputation of some legal representatives was being impugned.

The judge said: “It is entirely inappropriate for a defendant in a trial to be commenting on an account on social media.

“It is quite wrong and should not happen.

“If it has been done, it should certainly not continue.”

The non-jury trial began last week. The Prosecution has now concluded its case.

The trial is due to resume on Tuesday.