NI Courts

Marvin Canning back in court

Pete Baker on June 9, 2011, 2:25 pm

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Marvin Canning, brother-in-law of Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been charged with two terrorist offences in connection with a 32 County Sovereignty Movement Easter Monday parade in Londonderry. An unrelated prosecution against Mr Canning was stayed in November last year when late disclosure of “pivotal” statements by prosecutors had “resulted in such potential prejudice as to render any trial unfair”. According to today’s BBC report, Mr Canning, who was arrested on Tuesday, is charged with arranging, managing …

“nor does it sit comfortably with the transparency expectations of a modern society”

Pete Baker on June 6, 2011, 8:19 pm

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As the BBC reports, in response to a written question from TUV leader, Jim Allister, MLA, the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford, has revealed that, in the last 4 years, there have been 4 ‘super-injunctions’ granted in Northern Ireland – that is, court orders made “prohibiting publicity on the granting of injunctive relief”. From the BBC report The North Antrim MLA said he hoped the information “may stimulate some necessary debate” on the issue. “The mystery and secrecy surrounding injunctive relief …

Legal Aid Fees Dispute: “necessary to go outside Northern Ireland to bring in other lawyers”?

Pete Baker on June 6, 2011, 3:03 pm

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As the BBC reports, Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Alliance Party leader, David Ford, has detailed the number of cases where solictors have come “off record” to date in the dispute over legal aid fees [134 between 13 April and 27 May]. Although the Minister adds that It is not the court practice to record the reason given by a solicitor for coming off record so it is not possible to state categorically that all of these cases represent the outcome of a …

“encouraging support for an illegal organisation…”

Pete Baker on May 15, 2011, 5:31 pm

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The Belfast Telegraph report, transcribed by Newshound, has some details of the arrest of Marian Price and the subsequent search of her house. But the reports of the charge she now faces, encouraging support for an illegal organisation, link it specifically to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement’s Easter Monday rally in Londonderry – where she was the main speaker. Just as she was in 2010. As the News Letter report notes The PSNI said this morning that a 57-year-old woman, understood to be …

“He benefits from formidable references from the very highest echelons of our society.”

Pete Baker on May 6, 2011, 10:23 pm

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Sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder, in 1981, of now-DUP councillor, Sammy Brush, former Provisional IRA member Gerry McGeough has been refused temporary release on compassionate bail to attend his son’s first holy communion. That’s despite his barrister, Sean Devine’s, claim that his client “benefits from formidable references from the very highest echelons of our society.” [And that would be? – Ed] The erstwhile Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew… It cut little ice with the NI Court …

McGeough sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder

Pete Baker on April 6, 2011, 12:36 pm

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The BBC reports on the sentencing of Gerry McGeough – who was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier, then working as a postman, now DUP councillor Sammy Brush, in 1981. From the BBC report Former IRA man Gerry McGeough has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier 30 years ago. McGeough, 52, shot Sammy Brush, now a DUP councillor, in Aughnacloy in June 1981. He was arrested in …

“it is necessary to extend the Non-Jury Trial system at this time…”

Pete Baker on April 5, 2011, 12:29 pm

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In March 2010 the then-Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins announced a “comprehensive review [], including a full public consultation” of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 provisions for non-jury trials “before it next falls to be renewed in July 2011” – those provisions had previously been extended in 2009. Today the NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, announced that he is “laying before Parliament an Order to extend the Non-Jury trial provisions for a further period of two years”. From the NI Secretary of State’s …

NI Executive member supplies reference for McGeough

Pete Baker on April 1, 2011, 2:32 pm

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The BBC reports from the pre-sentencing hearing of Gerry McGeough – who was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier, then working as a postman, now DUP councillor Sammy Brush, in 1981. From the BBC report An unnamed member of the Northern Ireland Executive has supplied a reference for Gerry McGeough ahead of his sentencing. The former IRA member was found guilty in February of the attempted murder of an off-duty UDR soldier 30 years ago. Sammy Brush, …

A quick round-up…

Pete Baker on March 28, 2011, 5:34 pm

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Londonderry courthouse is the target of a car-bomb consisting of 50kg of home-made explosives packed into a beer keg and described as a “substantial viable device”. British Army technical officers carried out a number of controlled explosions on the device during Sunday night. They’ve also carried out a controlled explosion on a small suspicious object found behind a west Belfast GAA club on Monday afternoon after a claim that a device had been left in the area. [Adds – now described …

Loreto Grammar School decision “an abuse of power”

Pete Baker on March 25, 2011, 1:28 pm

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As the BBC reports, Belfast High Court has delivered a damning ruling in the judicial review of the Northern Ireland Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane’s decision not to fund a £14.6million new build for, Catholic, Loreto College Loreto Grammar School, Omagh. [corrected school name] From the BBC report …Justice McCloskey concluded that the conduct, delay and inactivity of the minister and department officials frustrated the legitimate expectation of the governors that a new Loreto Grammar School, financed by public funding, would be built …

You have the right to be offended.

Pete Baker on March 22, 2011, 1:36 pm

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That would appear to be the upshot of the Belfast High Court ruling which overturned an Advertising Standards Authority ban on a controversial advert by Sandown Free Presbyterian Church. From the BBC report In his ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Treacy stressed the context of the advertisement was important. The judge noted that the advertisement contained no exhortation to violence and that it also made clear how violent antagonism towards homosexuals was unacceptable and unjustifiable. He said: “The applicant’s religious views and the …

Sammy Brush on McGeough’s conviction

Turgon on February 21, 2011, 10:05 am

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Pete has a blog on McGeough’s conviction for the attempted murder of Samuel Brush below and has also covered the suggestion that Sinn Fein might use its influence to try to help McGeough. Today the Belfast telegraph has a piece about Mr. Brush’s reaction to the trial and conviction. Brush has met Michelle Gildernew and says he was touched by the gesture of her coming to see him and said “I have spoken to her on several occasions since she …

McGeough: “Sinn Féin promised to use its influence…”

Pete Baker on February 20, 2011, 3:52 pm

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Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew, MP, MLA, was quick to offer her support following Gerry McGeough’s conviction on attempted murder charges from 1981, and according to the transcribed Belfast Telegraph report on Newshound it wasn’t the first offer the party made. Gerry McGeough has claimed that Sinn Féin held secret talks with Gerry McGeough in which it pledged to use its influence to prevent his imprisonment if he stopped criticising the party. Speaking minutes before his conviction for attempted murder, McGeough said …

“We are raising this case now with David Ford Justice Minister, Mr Chris Smith US Congress, the Irish Government, all interested non-governmental offices and civil liberties organisations, local political parties here and with the Court Service”

Pete Baker on October 20, 2010, 10:50 pm

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Apologies for the length of the post title, but I wanted to make sure I had included everyone… A 25-year-old Queen’s University politics guaduate walked free from Belfast Crown Court today after the prosecution offered no evidence on charges relating to the fire-bombing of Toys R Us Boucher Road store on 1 November 2006. There had been a series of fire-bomb attacks at the time. Since then, the circumstances of those “micro-organisations” appear to have changed… As the UTV report reveals, it’s not necessarily the end of the …