Northern Ireland

Chairman of Newry Saoradh branch charged with taking part in illegal dissident republican parade

Eight people have been charged with participating in an un-notified parade on April 20 last year
Eight people have been charged with participating in an un-notified parade on April 20 last year Eight people have been charged with participating in an un-notified parade on April 20 last year

THE chairman of Newry's Saoradh branch has been charged with taking part in an illegal dissident republican parade.

At Newry Magistrates Court, Anthony Coyle (58) from Main Avenue in the city, was one of eight defendants charged with participating in an un-notified parade on April 20 last year.

Also charged are Micheal Doran (64) from John F. Kennedy Park in Bessbrook, Aidean Hynes (40) from Mourneview Park, Newry, Cliodhna McCool (28) from Derrybeg Terrace in Newry, Martin Stephen Murney (37), from Rath Gullion, Newry, Niall Reynolds (30) from Woodside Green in Portadown, Oliver Patrick White (46) from Barley Mews in Newry and Michael Gerard Dinsmore, who turns 41 today and is from Kenard Villas in Newry.

None of the defendants attended court where a prosecuting lawyer told District Judge Eamon King she had “no acknowledgement of any acceptance” of the summonses.

None of the facts surrounding the charge were opened in court but it is understood it relates to a wreath-laying ceremony in the republican plot of St Mary's Cemetery in Newry.

It was reported at the time that Coyle led proceedings.

A police Land Rover was there at the time and the group accused the PSNI of “scaremongering" by deeming the parade illegal just two days beforehand.

The procession, organised by Saoradh, was held to commemorate the Easter Rising and came two days after a New IRA gunman murdered Lyra McKee in Derry.

A similar march had been planned in Derry but was cancelled in the wake of the murder.

This is the second time the case has been before the court. In April last year, the summons were deemed as not served in relation to the same group of defendants, with the exception of Dinsmore.