There was uproar in Derry Magistrates' Court yesterday when a 42-year-old man appeared charged with the murder of Mr James McGinley, the 23-year-old father of one who was stabbed to death near the centre of Derry city at the weekend.
Police were forced to use riot shields and batons inside the courtroom as relatives and friends of the victim charged the dock to get at the defendant, Mr Bartholomew Fisher, an unemployed plasterer from Sackville Court, Derry.
Emotions ran high as relatives and friends of the victim exchanged verbal insults with relatives and friends of the defendant.
As the defendant arrived at the Bishop Street courthouse, a crowd of about thirty people shouted abuse at him.
Police reinforcements were called and officers wearing riot gear and armed with batons took up positions outside the court, in the foyer and inside the courtroom.
Before the hearing started, the Resident Magistrate, Mr Barney McElholme, warned that anyone who misbehaved would be removed and he also threatened to hold the remand hearing in camera.
"I know emotions are running high among members of the deceased's family and friends, but in this courtroom people are treated with dignity and respect.
"At the moment a person is accused of murder, he has not been convicted of murder.
"There has already been some trouble outside the court during which some people have let themselves down very bady," he said.Members of the defendant's family and members of the deceased's family sat opposite each other in the court, surrounded by twenty police officers.
Several insults were shouted at the defendant as he appeared, handcuffed, in the dock.
The defendant was remanded in custody to appear before the same court via a video link on November 6th.