Two in court over Derry/Londonderry disturbances

By Q Radio news

One of the men charged in connection with the disturbances in Creggan  on Thursday had to be taken to hospital and received 8 stitches for a wound caused by a baton strike Derry/Londonderry Magistrate's Court heard today. 

Géaroid Cavanagh (32) of Elmwood Terrace in Derry was charged with possessing an offensive weapon namely a cup on March 18.

He was also charged with assaulting a police inspector on the same date. 

Jude McCrory (23) of Magowan Park in Derry appeared charged with assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer and disorderly behaviour at Ballymagowan Gardens on March 18.

A police officer connected both men who appeared separately to the charges and opposed bail. 

Relating to Cavanagh the court was told that a police cordon had been established at 6.16am and within 15 minutes a crowd had gathered 'to disrupt the operation'. 

Cavanagh initially was seen standing calmly with a mug in his hand of tea or coffee. 

He then moved onto a garden approaching the cordon and was approached by police. 

The officer said that the defendant moved his arm as if to throw the contents of the mug at police. 

He was told to move back and again seemed to threaten to throw the contents of the cup. 

The court heard that Cavanagh went to leave and was approached by an Inspector and the defendant allegedly punched him three times to the head and was struck with a baton and taken to hospital where he received 8 stitches. 

As regards McCrory the officer said he kept approaching the cordon and was verbally abusive to police. 

He was told to calm down but again tried to move the cordon and then pushed an officer and kicked him. 

The police officer said that every time police conducted operations in the Creggan area they faced hostile crowds and she believed McCrory was one of those who orchestrated this. 

She said he was currently on bail in connection with a protest outside Maghaberry Prison. 

Bail was opposed for both due to the fear of further offences. 

Defence solicitor for both men Derwin Harvey said it was a matter of deep concern that anyone should be struck on the head with a truncheon in any circumstances. 

He said both men were community activists in the area and were 'entitled' to be present at such a police operation. 

He asked the officer was she aware of complaints that the police had been 'heavy handed' during the operation and the officer said she wasn't. 

The solicitor asked was she aware that even the loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson had said while he was no fan of republicans in Creggan the police actions seemed to be 'disproportionate and needless'. 

The officer said she was not aware of that either. 

Mr Harvey said he would have to question the decision making that led to a police operation in the early hours after St Patrick's Day that 'effectively barricaded people in.' 

He added that there was also footage showing police officers wrestling a woman to the ground. 

Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall said that it had to be made clear there was no area of the city that was not 'subject to law and order'. 

McCrory was released on his own bail to an address approved by the PSNI and ordered to stay out of the Creggan area. 

Cavanagh was also released on the same conditions with both men being ordered not to go within 200 metres of any police operation. 

Both will appear again on April 15.