A CO Antrim magistrate cleared his court after an outburst by supporters of five
people charged with Real IRA membership and possession of explosives.
Cheers and shouts greeted the appearance of Anthony Martin Lee of Fisherwick
Crescent in Ballymena at the town’s magistrates court yesterday morning.
The 29-year-old was one of five people from Ballymena arrested following the
discovery of three incendiary bombs on Saturday.
The devices were found during the search of a house at Fisherwick Gardens.
Also charged were Liam Lyness, a 20-year-old butcher from Fisherwick Crescent,
unemployed Christopher Daniel Smiley (20) from Dunclug Park, Anthony Martin Lee,
a 29-year-old unemployed baker from Fisherwick Crescent and 22-year-old dental
nurse Simone Sloan from Fisherwick Gardens.
There was a heavy police presence both inside and outside the courthouse, with
officers armed with long-arm weapons standing guard on the street.
Mr Lee was the first to appear in the dock charged with being a member of the
republican paramilitary group and possessing explosives with intent to endanger
life or damage property.
Friends and relatives of the five accused applauded as he was brought in,
prompting resident magistrate Richard Wilson to order their ejection from his
courtroom.
“Everybody clapping – out. They don’t know how to behave,” Mr Wilson said,
instructing that only one family member of each defendant be readmitted when
they appeared before the court.
Police assisted court officials in clearing the court.
However, following representations from the defendants’ solicitors, they were
allowed to return after giving undertakings that there would be no further
disruption to proceedings.
The court heard that Mr Lee, Mr Smiley and Mr Lyness had all replied “I’ve never
been a member of any illegal organisation”, making no reply to the explosive
charge.
Ms Sloan answered “I completely deny the allegations” when the charges were put
to her.
Mr O’Neill made no reply to either charge and refused to speak in court, even to
confirm his name.
He had to be made by police officers to stand as the charges were read to him.
Police are awaiting the results of forensic tests but Detective Constable Paul
Bennett said he believed that he could connect the accused to the charges.
Peter Madden, solicitor for Mr Lee, Mr Smiley and Mr Lyness said he would be
asking a forensic expert to examine the material seized by police “as there is a
question mark over the nature of the material”.
All five were remanded in custody to appear at the court by video-link on March
3.
Some of the accused shouted republican slogans as they were being led out of the
court in handcuffs.
The road outside the courthouse was closed as they were taken away.