Michael Topolski QC made the claim as 65-year-old McCann from Westland Avenue went on trial at Belfast Crown Court along with five Derry men accused of affray and three counts of criminal damage at the Branch Road offices of the American company on Wednesday August 9, 2006.

However, prosecution QC Paul Ramsey in opening the Crown case claimed while the men had a right to legimate and peaceful protest, they had gone beyond that and engaged in an orgy of wanton distruction.

Mr. Ramsey claimed that McCann and the others could not hide behind their right of protest at what they perceived Raytheon were engaged in.

After the prosecution opening, McCann's London based barrister said while McCann admitted being one of the protestors who caused over £20,000 worth of damage, what was at issue were his motives.

Mr. Topolski posed the question to the jury of eight women and four men, was McCann's conduct that day an act or protest and vandalism, "or was it to prevent a crime being committed?"

And he added: "was his conduct designed to impede, obstruct, prevent the commission by Raytheon of war crimes?"

Mr. Topolski further claimed McCann believed that Raytheon were aiding and abetting "crimes against humanity" by the Isreali defence forces in the Lebanon.

The trial continues.