Court told men singled out

The faces of two men who took part in an anti-march protest were ringed in a newspaper cutting found by security forces last …

The faces of two men who took part in an anti-march protest were ringed in a newspaper cutting found by security forces last week, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.

A Crown lawyer said the photograph in the July 2nd edition of the Belfast Telegraph showed nationalists protesting about a march in Lurgan, Co Armagh. "Two of the people had their heads ringed as if to identify or point them out for some purpose," said the lawyer.

He was objecting to an application for bail by Mr Norman Stevenson (26), of Hartfield Square, Portadown, Co Armagh, who is charged with possessing the Belfast Telegraph cutting and other items suspected of being connected with acts of terrorism.

The other items, which included two balaclavas, a pick axe handle and a pair of surgical gloves, were found in a car in a remote area of Loughgilly, Co Armagh, last Friday night.

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The lawyer said Mr Stevenson was arrested along with another man who was in the car and both denied being involved in terrorist activity.

Mr Justice Girvan said there appeared to be prima facie evidence of nefarious activity but granted bail on condition that Mr Stevenson observed a night time curfew and reported to police twice a week.