19 police witnesses in case of Derry 5 charged with taking part in an illegal procession
Derry Magistrate's Court has heard that there are 19 police witnesses in the case against five people charged with taking part in an illegal procession in support of Palestine.
Goretti Horgan (70) of Westland Avenue, Davina Pulis (36) of Knoxhill Park, Robert Paul Maxwell (60) of Rathlin Drive and Jude Coffey (27) of Gartan Square and local People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin (52) of Beechwood Avenue, all in Derry, are charged with taking part in an illegal procession on February 14, 2024 and in Harkin's case February 17, in support of Palestine.
Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood had also been charged in connection with the march but accepted a diversion at a previous hearing.
At Wednesday's hearing defence counsel for three of the defendants, Sinead Rogan said that a request had been made to the court for a separate day to hear this case. The defence counsel added that as yet no reply had been received.
She told the Magistrate’s Court that a separate day would be required as there are a lot of witnesses in the case.
A prosecutor meanwhile told the court that there were 19 police witnesses in the case.
District Judge Mark Hamill said it was a case that would required a separate day for the hearing.
The case against all of the accused, who are all pleading not guilty to the charge against them, has been adjourned until December 3 in order to see if a reply is forthcoming from the court office by then.