Two appear in Belfast court over loyalist protests

Published on 02/03/2013 15:00

TWO OF the most high profile Union flag demonstrators have appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with a series of offences linked to the loyalist protests.

Jamie Bryson, 23, was refused bail at Belfast Magistrates Court while Jim Dowson, 48, was granted bail on strict conditions.

Bryson, from Rosepark in Donaghadee, Co Down, has been charged with two counts of encouraging or assisting offenders and four counts of taking part in an unnotified public procession.

Dowson, a former British National Party (BNP) fundraiser originally from Scotland but now residing at The Burn Road, Comber, Co Down, was charged with encouraging or assisting offenders and five counts of taking part in an unnotified public procession.

The protests have been continuing since early December when Belfast City Council voted to limit the number of days the flag flew over City Hall.

A number of the earlier demonstrations descended into violence, particularly in east Belfast, with around 140 police officers being injured.

The demonstrations have become more sporadic and less incendiary in recent weeks, though tensions still surround a weekly march from east Belfast to the City Hall.

Legal

While police have said peaceful protests are legal, they have warned that mass parades to such events that have not been notified to Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission are against the law.

Both Bryson, who is chairman of protest group the Ulster People’s Forum, and Dowson have been charged in connection with participation in such unnotified parades.

Bryson, dressed in a blue jumper and checked shirt, shook his head as District Judge Bernie Kelly refused his bail application and remanded him in custody.

He had spoken earlier only to confirm he understood the charges against him.

A detective constable, who said he could connect Bryson with the charges, had opposed bail on the grounds that the defendant would likely re-offend and was a flight risk.

He described Bryson as a “main player” in “organising” the unnotified processions and said he regularly encouraged people to participate both through public speeches, delivered by megaphone, and media interviews.

Lawful protest

In regard to the risk of flight, the officer noted that Bryson had refused a police request to come forward for questioning prior to his arrest on Thursday and at the time had given a TV interview stating he would not hand himself in.

When he was eventually detained he was found in a locked room, the officer added.

Bryson’s lawyer challenged the officer’s claims.

Darren Duncan asked why his client had not been charged with organising the parades if that was what the police believed he had done.

He also questioned how people were meant to get to legal protests if groups travelling there were deemed to be breaking the law. The lawyer compared the scenario to crowds walking en mass to a sporting fixture.

“If someone is going to a lawful protest how do they get there?” he said.

Mr Duncan insisted his client had never taken part in or encouraged violence.

“In no way is he responsible in any shape or form for any violence,” he said.

Noting Bryson’s parents were in court, he said they had had a “lengthy conversation” with their son and were confident he would comply with any bail conditions.

“This is a person who has never been in prison before,” the lawyer added.

“He stands here facing the prospect of going to prison for the first time.”

Refusing bail, Judge Kelly said her main concern was the events leading up to his arrest where he had seemingly avoided the police through a deliberate act.

“For that reason I am not releasing him on bail,” she said.

Bryson will appear again in court via videolink on March 20.