A Newry gym owner accused of breaching Covid regulations will be contesting charges “no matter what” the content of police bodycam footage is, court has heard.
The Covid charges arise following a handful of videos, shot by the 32-year-old at The Gym in the city, which shows half a dozen officers arresting him after they gain entry to his premises as he debates with them the legalities of their actions.
Declan Trainor, of Rossmara Park in Warrenpoint, is charged with three counts of contravening requirements under the Covid restrictions and three counts of failing to comply with a prohibition notice.
At Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, defence barrister Craig Patton informed court that his solicitor had received bodycam footage but as of yet were not able to view it.
He went on to state: “I am instructed that he will be fighting the case no matter what the content of that is.”
Adjourning the case until June 16 for a contest date to be identified, District Judge Eamonn King stated the first evidence to be called would be that of the bodycam footage.
