Derry dissident republican granted permission to address meeting in Brussels

A man who has been returned for trial on charges linked to a dissident republican parade in Derry last April has been granted permission to address a meeting in the European Parliament on state harassment.

Patrick Gallagher (31) of Raftery Close in Derry had been returned for trial on charges of encouraging and inciting support for a proscribed organisation namely the IRA on April 10 last year and also organising a meeting encouraging such support.

Following the case defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said he was seeking to vary his client's bail as he had been invited by Clare Daly MEP to address a meeting in Brussels.

Police objected to the variation due in part to one of those accompanying Gallagher had convictions for IRA membership.

Mr Harvey said he couldn't understand the police objections as this was a case of Gallagher engaging in 'political debate' and there was a long history of people moving from one type of action to engaging in politics including some of the present day politicians both North and South.

He said surely people should be encouraged to take part in political debate as much as possible. 

The solicitor described the European Parliament as 'the pinnacle of democracy' and said it was unlikely Gallagher would commit any offences in front of 700 MEPs.

District Judge Barney McElholm granted Gallagher permission to attend the meeting in Brussels between April 3 and April 5.