A DISTRICT judge yesterday granted anonymity orders to three men facing charges which are not drugs linked. In the past Barney McElholm has imposed anonymity orders in cases where people have been charged with drugs related offences and could be at risk from the republican vigilante group Raad.
However, in what is believed to be the first ruling of its kind, he granted a similar anonymity ruling yesterday to three men facing charges which are not drugs linked.
At a sitting of Derry Magistrates Court Mr McElholm said was granting the order because of fears that two of the accused could come to the "attention of elements in this city who have shown in the past they are prepared to maim and kill."
One of the three was charged with obstructing a police officer on October 17 last.
The second was charged with perverting the course of justice by falsely identifying someone to the police between October 17 and 24 last year.
The third man was charged with perverting the course of justice by falsely claiming he was someone who had been asked to produce their driving documents on October 24.
During the preliminary hearing it was accepted there was a case to answer and the three said they did not wish to call any witnesses or make any statement at this stage.
They were returned for trial to a date later this month.