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Six charged over Lurgan parade released on bail

Supporters cheer and applaud from public gallery as six appear in court

police protest

Six men arrested at an Easter commemoration event in Co Armagh on Saturday have been freed on bail.

None of the six made any comment when it custody, Lisburn Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.

When asked to identify themselves during the court proceedings, none did, and there were cheers and applause from the public gallery from supporters of the six.

The men are charged with taking part in an ‘unnotified public procession’ and wearing clothing or having article(s) as members or supporters of a proscribed organisation.

Only two of the six before the court on Monday are from Lurgan.

The six were Christopher Hamilll (28), of Lurgan Tarry and 48-year-old Martin Conlon, of Tarry Drive, Lurgan; Eamon Green (30), from Falls Road, Belfast; Emmett Donnan, also aged 30 and from Colin Mill, Dunmurry; Gary Doherty (36), from the Old Mountfield Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone; and 39-year-old Matthew O’Donnell, whose address was given as Lislane Drive in Londonderry.

A police witness said the accused – who appeared in court handcuffed – had been members of a colour party at an event on Saturday, and had been wearing clothing of a paramilitary style including scarves, berets, belts and sunglasses.

The officer described the event as a “dissident parade” and told the court the six had been members of a colour party and continued to march in formation after warnings were given and they had failed to disperse.

District Judge Amanda Henderson freed all six on bail of £500, despite bail being opposed by police.

Each was ordered not to have any contact with any of the other accused and not to go within 200 metres of any other unnotified parade or procession.

They must stay at addresses agreeable to the PSNI, observe a night-time curfew, and are due to appear back in court on Friday, April 27.

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