Eastwood court case over pro-Palestine rally put back to July
A case in which former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood is charged in relation to taking part in an unnotified parade in Northern Ireland has been put back until July.
The charge relates to a pro-Palestinian rally that took place last February at Derry's War Memorial in the Diamond area of the city centre.
After speeches, participants walked to Derry's Guildhall.
Under Northern Ireland's legislation governing parades and processions, the organisers of such events must apply in advance to the Parades Commission adjudication body for permission to march.
Mr Eastwood, 42, is one of five people facing prosecution in relation to the event on 14 February last year.
The court heard that more time was needed to allow for representations being made in relation to a request made by two defendants to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to review the basis for pursuing the case.
The two defendants who have already requested the review are university lecturer Goretti Horgan, 69, from Westland Avenue in Derry, and fellow pro-Palestinian activist Davina Pulis, 36, from Knoxhill Avenue in the city.
The court had heard previously that Mr Eastwood is also set to challenge the basis for prosecuting him.
Barrister Joe Brolly said in court today that he represented "well-known SDLP man" Mr Eastwood in the case and asked for the matter to be put back further.
He said there was a "substantial amount of law to get through," and they were in the process of making a formal request for a review to the PPS.
The matter was put back five weeks and will be heard again on 8 July.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Police assessing videos of Kneecap and Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performances
Police are assessing videos of comments made by acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of: 'Free, free Palestine' and: 'Death, death to the IDF', before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance. Bob Vylan also displayed pro-Palestinian images (Yui Mok/PA) In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage (Ben Birchall/PA) Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' There was a display of pro-Palestinian flags and t-shirts during Kneecap's set (Yui Mok/PA) A BBC spokesperson said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.' During the performance Caireallain said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' He also said a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience. The trio opened with the song Better Way To Live from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including Get Your Brits Out and Hood. Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags. A Bob Vylan member crowd-surfs surrounded by Palestinian flags (Yui Mok/PA) Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. O hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
IDF ‘assassinates Hamas mastermind of October 7' who founded terror group's military wing in targeted Israeli airstrike
ISRAEL says it has killed one of the last masterminds behind the bloody October 7 attacks. Senior Hamas commander Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was "eliminated" in a targeted airstrike on Gaza City, according to the IDF. 1 Senior Hamas commander Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was reportedly killed by the IDF The Israel Defense Forces said Al-Issa — described as a founding member of Hamas' military wing — was 'eliminated' in an operation on the Sabra neighbourhood. 'Issa led Hamas' force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre,' the IDF posted on X. As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis. 'The IDF & [Israel Security Agency] will continue to locate and eliminate all terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre.' Read more world news According to Palestinian reports, Al-Issa was killed along with his wife and grandson, though this has not been independently confirmed. The IDF later said it had verified his death, according to Al-Issa is widely believed to have played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7 bloodbath on southern Israel that triggered the current war, with terrorists slaughtering kidnapping dozens of innocent people. The military described him as a 'central knowledge figure' and a high-value target who was instrumental in building Hamas' training and weapons programmes. Most read in The US Sun The IDF said in a statement: 'In the past, Issa led Hamas' force-buildup efforts in the Gaza Strip, was one of the founders of its military wing, served as Head of the Training Headquarters, and was a member of Hamas' General Security Council. 'Additionally, Issa played a significant role in the planning and execution of the brutal October 7 massacre.' Security officials further claimed he co-founded the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades' military academy. There, he oversaw the training of thousands of fighters and helped shape the group's technological capabilities. He reportedly brought extensive combat experience from Iraq and Syria when he arrived in Gaza from Syria in 2005. His killing comes just a week after the IDF and Shin Bet said they had eliminated Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha, a senior figure in the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement who was allegedly set to take over as its leader. Israel has also ramped up strikes on the Kataib al-Mujahideen's leadership — a smaller but reportedly highly lethal armed wing linked to the October 7 atrocities, including the abduction and murder of Israeli civilians and foreign workers. The latest elimination of Al-Issa underscores Israel's ongoing campaign to hunt down Hamas commanders it holds responsible for the massacre that set off months of relentless fighting in Gaza. The IDF vowed its operations would continue until all those behind the attacks are 'brought to justice.' More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
At least 72 Palestinians killed by Israelis in airstrikes on Gaza as Donald Trump claims ceasefire inching closer
Israel's minister for strategic affairs reported to be heading to Washington next week for talks Israeli strikes killed at least 72 Palestinian people across Gaza over Friday night and into Saturday, health workers said yesterday, as United States sources said ceasefire prospects were improving. Three children and their parents were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Muwasi near the southern city of Khan Younis. They were struck while asleep, relatives said.
