Trial begins for four accused over Derry Easter parade

An unnotified parade took place in Derry's Creggan estate on Easter Monday 2023, the court was told

The trial of four men accused of charges linked to a dissident republican Easter commemoration parade in Londonderry more than two years ago has begun.

Thomas Ashe Mellon, 49, of Glendermott Road, Derry Jason Lee Ceulemans, 53, of Creevagh Heights, Derry, Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 33, of Raferty Close in Derry along with Stephen Martin Murney, 41, of Derrybeg Terrace, Newry, each deny arranging or managing a meeting in support of the IRA.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between 28 February and 11 April 2023.

The men also deny a charge of addressing a meeting for the purpose of encouraging support for the IRA.

On Tuesday, a prosecution barrister told the non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court that on Easter Monday, 10 April, 2023, an unnotified parade set off from Creggan to walk the half mile to Derry's City Cemetery.

The parade was being observed by a number of aerial Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) platforms.

He said that at 14:05 BST footage showed Mr Ceulemans entering a storage container at the rear of the shops.

"Masked males take flags from the storage and an unmasked Mr Ceulemans walks out of the container carrying two flags that he places against the rear shop wall,'' said the senior prosecutor.

Thomas Ashe Mellon pictured on the first day of the trial

Judge Gordon Kerr was told crowds were gathering waiting for the parade to begin.

"Mr Ceulemans is clearly involved in the organisation of what is to occur. Patrick Gallagher is noted to be in the area, engaging with the crowd," the barrister told the court.

The court heard the colour party - dressed in military style clothing wearing sunglasses and black berets - sets off with the flags left by Mr Ceulemans and march past crowds at Creggan shops.

"Stephen Murney and Patrick Gallagher were standing in front of the crowd, Mr Gallagher clapping with Mr Murney capturing the images on his phone,'' the prosecution barrister said.

"Mr Ceulemans is at the front of the colour party and is noted to be wearing an earpiece and he walked with them. Mr Murney and Mr Gallagher were at the rear of the colour party.''

The court was told Jason Ceulemans was introduced as a former republican prisoner at the cemetery's republican plot

The court heard that a PSNI land rover was repeatedly attacked by masked youths with petrol bombs and masonry before it retreated.

"YouTube recorded the colour party at a standstill as the disorder took place, consistent with this aspect being planned," the barrister said.

"None of those present, in particular Mr Ceulemans, who appeared to be leading this part of the orchestrated event, remonstrated with the young persons who were gathered around the petrol bombs in an attempt to prevent the attack on police.

"It appears that the attack was part and parcel of events that afternoon.''

The court heard that at 14:26, Mr Ceulemans entered the cemetery followed by Mr Gallagher and Mr Murney. The colour party then enters the cemetery.

"As they proceeded, a male with a number of bags made his way to the rear of the toilet block which appeared to be guarded by masked individuals with the republican plot a short distance away,'' said the senior counsel.

"Red crates were placed at the pillar of one of the gates and two masked youths appeared to be carrying petrol bombs.''

Patrick Gallagher performed as "master of ceremonies'", the trial was told

The toilet block camera captured these moments before two attempts were made to spray paint the lens.

Judge Kerr heard that Mr Gallagher performed as "master of ceremonies'" at the republican plot.

He invited the Derry Brigade Irish Republican Army to come forward and lay a wreath with MR Ceulemans and Mr Murney standing behind him.

Gallagher introduced Mr Ceulemans as a "former republican prisoner'' and he read a statement on behalf of republican prisoners.

He introduced Mr Murney as a "leading Newry Republican" and invited him to give the oration.

Mr Gallagher asked the crowd to stay around to help the colour party "disperse peacefully''.

"This led to a number of persons raising large umbrellas and shielding the colour party from view,'' said the prosecutor.

'Fundamental role in the organisation'

At the rear of the toilet block, the colour party changed clothes which were then burned. The cemetery gates remained closed until the colour party had disposed of its clothing.

The court was told that on April 11 2023, police conducted a search of the cemetery and found four viable pipe bombs in a waste bin beside the toilet block.

All four defendants were subsequently arrested for questioning.

Mr Murney's phone was recovered and messages were found between him and Ashe Mellon surrounding his speech.

When Ashe Mellon was asked by police if he assisted in drafting the speeches, his solicitor provided a statement, stating: "I, Thomas Ashe Mellon, would like to make it clear that I absolutely deny any involvement in the offences with which I have been arrested for.''

Stephen Murney, the court heard, gave an oration at the republican plot

The prosecutor added: "It is accepted that Mr Mellon was not present on 10 April. However, we say he played a fundamental role in the organisation and arrangements of the meetings from the phone material.

"We further say that it is clear Mr Mellon was influential in the preparation and management of the speeches. It is clear he had a key role in drafting and approving the speeches of Mr Murney and Mr Ceulemans.

"It is clear from the approved speech of Mr Murney that Mr Mellon knew this was to encourage support for the IRA or to further its activities.''

The barrister 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.''

'A planned propaganda exercise'

The prosecutor added: "It is accepted that Mr Mellon was not present on 10 April. However, we say he played a fundamental role in the organisation and arrangements of the meetings from the phone material.

"We further say that it is clear Mr Mellon was influential in the preparation and management of the speeches. It is clear he had a key role in drafting and approving the speeches of Mr Murney and Mr Ceulemans.

"It is clear from the approved speech of Mr Murney that Mr Mellon knew this was to encourage support for the IRA or to further its activities.''

The barrister 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.''