Four suspects deny they arranged a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation in early 2023
A video which encouraged people to “join the IRA” was played today at the trial of four men accused of charges linked to a dissident republican parade.
Belfast Crown Court heard the TikTok was found on the phone of defendant Stephen Murney following his arrest over his alleged involvement in managing the parade on Easter Monday, April 10, 2023.
Three of the defendants are from Derry: Thomas Ashe Mellon, 49, of Glendermott Road, Jason Lee Ceulemans, 53, of Creevagh Heights and Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 33, of Raftery Close along with 41-year-old Murney of Derrybeg Terrace in Newry, Co Down. All four deny that they arranged a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA, on dates between February 28, 2023 and April 11, 2023. They further deny a charge of addressing a meeting for the purpose of encouraging support for the IRA.
The non-jury Diplock-style trial at Belfast Crown Court is being heard by Judge Gordon Kerr KC.
During the third day of the trial, a senior prosecution counsel KC referred the court to extracts of messages retrieved from the phones of the defendants showing they were in contact with each other.
An examination of Murney’s phone showed he was in contact with Mellon and they were discussing the ”French guys” and Murney told Mellon that the French were looking for somewhere to stay in Derry on Easter Sunday and Monday.
He said he was organising accommodation for the French party and that he had asked ”Big Sean” to sort somewhere in Belfast for them on Friday and Saturday. Mellon replied that he would get that sorted.
In a further conversation, Mellon asked Murney what date the French are coming and could they lay a wreath in Dublin on Good Friday, April 7, 2023. Murney replied that some were flying into Dublin on Good Friday while others were flying into Belfast.
On Thursday, April 6, 2023, during a WhatsApp conversation, Mellon asked Murney about his speech. Mellon asked him to send him the ending of the speech and Murney sent the following: “Before the Marie Drumm quote…..I have a message for the British occupiers, their paramilitary police and their entire establishment….So long as you continue to oppress us, you will meet with the enecapble (sic) consequences.” On Friday, April 7, 2023, there was a conversation between Murney and Paddy ‘Brexit’ Gallagher during which they discussed the editing and formatting of Murney’s speech. ‘Paddy Brexit’ stated that he would “reprint it when he gets home tonight”.
Two days later they agreed that Gallagher would refer to Murney as a “leading Newry Republican”. Murney advised Gallagher to refer to the French speakers at the Easter Monday event as “French antifascists”.
During the commemoration in Derry’s City Cemetery, Murney was invited by Gallagher to give the oration at the republican plot. His oration was recorded on a TikTok video and he used another quote from veteran republican Maire Drumm.
The one minute 30 second video clip was played to the court. At the end Murney stated: “It isn’t enough to shout up the IRA, the important thing is to join the IRA”. The video recorded loud applause and cheering from the assembled crowd.
It was the prosecution case that the unnotified parade of men dressed in military style clothing left Creggan’s Central Drive on Easter Monday to walk the half mile route to the City Cemetery. Prosecutors stated Ceulemans, Murney and Gallagher played their own roles in the managing of the commemoration while Mellon did not attend the parade. On the second day of the trial, the court heard that four pipe bombs were found in a waste bin in the cemetery on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 which were made safe by Ammunition Technical Officers. A forensic scientist said the devices were “copper pipes painted black” which each contained a length of fuse and “mixed small arms propellant, firework composition and ball bearings”. He described them as “improvised explosive devices” and stated pipe bombs are “usually small, hand thrown or placed devices intended primarily as anti-personnel weapons. The addition of ball bearings are used in improvised explosive devices within Northern Ireland as additional shrapnel”. A senior prosecutor told the opening day of the trial that it was accepted Mellon was not present on April 10. “However, we say he played a fundamental role in the organisation and arrangements of the meetings from the phone material. “It is clear Mellon was influential in the preparation and management of the speeches and he had a key role in drafting and approving the speeches of Murney and Ceulemans. “It is clear from the approved speech of Murney that Mellon knew this was to encourage support for the IRA or to further its activities.”
He added: “On any view this was a highly choreographed event. It was staged and stylised and it involved planned violence. On one reasonable view from start to finish it was a planned propaganda exercise for the IRA. “The fact that journalists were permitted to remain was to enable a demonstration of intent and a showing off that the IRA are in control of this area in Derry.” At hearing.
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