SDLP MP in court over pro-Palestinian rally

The Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Colum Eastwood has appeared in court charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian rally in Londonderry last year.

Eastwood, the MP for Foyle and former SDLP leader, is one of four people accused of taking part in an unnotified parade in the city on 14 February 2024.

In Northern Ireland, organisers must give 28 days’ notice to the Parades Commission, the body that adjudicates on contentious parades, to hold a parade or procession.

Eastwood’s solicitor told Londonderry Magistrates’ Court he believed it was not in the public interest to pursue the charge and that he intended to ask the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) why it pushed the case forward.

The case has been adjourned to 3 June.

Speaking outside court, Eastwood said he, and his co-accused, “respect the law, we respect this court”.

“Nobody was put out on Shipquay Street on that day in fact people were beeping their horns in support of us,” he said.

Last year, the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable apologised to Eastwood over an investigation into a walk he took part in with Bloody Sunday families.

Eastwood accompanied relatives of some of the victims to a court hearing in August 2023 involving an ex-soldier accused of crimes including murder on Bloody Sunday.

In January 2024 police submitted a file to the PPS reporting seven people.

But the following month the PPS said it was not in the public interest to charge the Foyle MP and the others.

On Tuesday, Eastwood said the PPS has a “bizarre mechanism for deciding” the merit of cases.

“The previous case… was deemed not to be in the interest of justice to prosecute but this is for some reason,” said Eastwood.

“That’s a question they are going to have to answer but I think the court will have its views on that and it strikes me as a very bizarre decision-making process.”

In a statement, the PPS said following “receipt of a file from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in relation to its investigation into a rally which turned into a procession on 14 February 2024, the PPS gave careful consideration to all evidence submitted and concluded that the test for prosecution was met in relation to five individuals reported”.

A spokesperson said that all PPS decision-making in this case was “undertaken impartially, independently and fully in line with the PPS code for prosecutors”.

“The public interest factors for and against prosecution were carefully weighed before the decision was taken,” they said.

“We understand that some of the defendants are intending to make representations and these will be considered and a response issued in due course.

“These proceedings are live and we would urge that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way cause prejudice.”

Earlier, about 60 people took part in a protest outside the courthouse in Derry.

A spokesperson for the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign group said that after their rally in February last year at the city’s War Memorial they had walked to the Guildhall.

The campaign group said it opposed any attempt to prosecute anyone for taking part in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.