A JUDGE said that two men charged with painting political slogans on the Derry Walls ‘should be made to scrub it off with a toothbrush’.
Gary Donnelly, 43, of Iniscarn Road and Terence Porter, 55, of Carnhill both appeared before Derry Magistrates Court charged with the criminal damage of the city Walls last Saturday.
The court heard that around eight people were gathered painting the walls at Nailor’s Row.
Donnelly was observed from above and below the Walls and was painting and instructing others to do so. Porter was also observed with the group in a ‘joint enterprise’.
When they became aware of the police presence they fled the scene but were pursued and apprehended.
Neither Donnelly nor Porter could give an account of what they were doing.
An investigating police officer told the court that police were opposing bail for the two men.
The officer said that Donnelly had 29 previous convictions and there was a fear that he would reoffend.
He added that he had no confidence that Donnelly would not engage in this type of behaviour again.
The officer said that the words ‘End internment now’ and the phrase ‘IRP’ was painted onto the Derry Walls.
He said there had been ‘significant damage’ caused to the Walls and that an expert cleaning company would have to be employed to remove the graffiti and this would cost thousands of pounds.
The officer said that cleaners of political graffiti off the Derry Walls had been ‘threatened and intimidated by persons’ in the past and a number had their ‘vans burnt out’.
Paddy MacDermott, defence solicitor, said that the graffiti was not intended to be offensive to anyone but was rather a ‘political matter intended for a wider audience attending a demonstration’. Mr MacDermott said that it was ‘a matter of simple criminal damage’ and that ‘both gentlemen are well established in the city and have no problem turning up for court appearances’.
He said that Porter was last before the court nine years ago while Donnelly was before the court in 2010 with a relevant conviction.
Mr MacDermott said that it was ‘not the worst case of criminal damage’ he had ever come across and that the practice of painting on walls had been around for a long time.
District Judge Barney McElholm said: “I believe it started in Ancient Rome.”
Mr MacDermott replied: “Many tourists come to this city to see the city Walls and the graffiti and murals.”
District Judge McElholm then queried what IRP stood for and said it was a ‘new one’ to him.
“I think they were interrupted and it was supposed to be IRPW for Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare,” replied Mr MacDermott.
District Judge McElholm said: “Despite what Mr MacDermott says, anyone convicted of this type of damage to historic structures should be made subject to specialist community service.
“Rather than bringing in specialist contractors they should be made to scrub it off with a toothbrush.”
He said that there were far too many ‘traditions’ that we could be ‘doing without’.
He added: “For their elucidation, internment ended a long time ago.”
When setting bail, District Judge McElholm declined from tagging the two men saying: “I’m not going to tag them; I’m not giving them the chance to turn this into a political circus.”
Donnelly and Porter were released on their own bail of £1,000 each, to observe a curfew from 8pm to 8am and not to associate with each other or any other person brought before the court on this matter.
They were also ordered not to have any contact with any civilian witnesses.
The men will appear back before the court again on March 3.
 

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.