A POLICE officer told a court in Derry yesterday that a prominent dissident republican was charged with a terrorist offence following statements made to the police by local freelance journalist Eamonn MacDermott and as a result of “extensive telephone inquiries”.
The detective constable made his comments when he opposed bail being granted to Gary Donnelly, 39, from Sackville Court, who appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in Derry charged under terrorist legislation with possessing a mobile phone on suspicion that it was to be used for the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.
The police witness told district judge Barney McElholm that the defendant was charged with the offence “in relation to statements obtained from Mr MacDermott and on the basis of extensive telephone inquiries and we are satisfied that we can connect the defendant to the charge”.
The defendant, who is alleged to have committed the offence on September 11th of last year, denies the charge.
The detective constable told the court that on that date Mr MacDermott received a phone call from a man purporting to represent the Real IRA.
The caller claimed responsibility for two pipe bomb attacks and for a so-called punishment shooting earlier that day. The police officer said police had “strong evidence” to indicate that the caller was the defendant.
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Paddy McGurk, the police witness agreed that one month after the phone call the police took a statement from Mr MacDermott and that last month they took a further statement from him.
The witness agreed that Mr MacDermott had indicated to the police that he knew the defendant.
The detective constable said Mr MacDermott “would collect his thoughts before relaying the call of responsibility to the media”.
Mr McGurk said Mr MacDermott had told the police that it was not Mr Donnelly who had made the phone call to him but the witness replied “we strongly believe there is evidence which connects Mr Donnelly to the charge before him”. Mr McGurk accused the witness of being “evasive in the extreme”, and said that Mr MacDermott “had made it clear to the police that it was not Mr Donnelly’s voice on the phone”.
The detective constable disputed that, saying Mr MacDermott was twice asked by police if he recognised the voice on his phone. He said Mr MacDermott’s first answer was “I do not know. I honestly do not know if he just rang cold and did not say who it was”.
When asked a second time, the officer said Mr MacDermott replied, “I do not think so. He would not be that daft to use his own phone and the time it would have taken to make the statement I would have recognised his voice”.
The district judge released the defendant on his own bail of £1,000 with two sureties each of £750 to appear in court again on September 20th. As part of his bail conditions the defendant must reside at his rented flat, observe an 11pm to 8am curfew and report once a week to the police.
After the court hearing supporters of the defendant shouted verbal abuse at the detective constable as he walked from the court. As he was driven away a plastic bottle was thrown at his car.