A barman from Kelly's Bar in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, where RUC Constable Greg Taylor spent the evening on the night he died, told Belfast Crown Court yesterday of an argument between a couple of Catholic youths and Mr Taylor's companions.
Eight Co Antrim men are denying the murder of the 41-year-old constable in the early hours of June 1st last year.
One of the Catholic youths had ended up on the floor and was then put out of the bar. The witness said the argument occurred after closing time. Mr Taylor and his companions had been taken to the balcony, where the manager had suggested that they leave by the back entrance. However, they refused. The manager then escorted them to the front door, promising to keep the door locked for about 10 minutes. The witness added that in this time they could have reached the police station or been well away from the premises.
When the Taylor group went through the public bar there was some shouting and the word "Dunloy" had been mentioned, the witness said.
The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, heard that some minutes later one of Mr Taylor's companions had tried to get back into the bar. In the confusion, a girl on her way out had been knocked to the ground and a number of people, including several of the men in the dock, had got out on to the street. Shortly afterwards, members of the staff were called to the end of the street, where Mr Taylor had been attacked and beaten and was lying with blood on his face and head.
During cross-examination the witness agreed that when the police were leaving the bar no one moved to obstruct them or assault them in any way. There was just some abuse between the two groups. He said that the two youths who had been "hassling the constable's group" were Catholics and not members of the local loyalist band.
Those accused are: Ballymoney men Mr Leslie Thomas Henry (31), Eastburn Crescent; Mr Alistair Samuel Stevenson (31), Vow Road; Mr Samuel Coulter (33), Semicock Park; Mr Mark McIntyre (29), Charlotte Street; Mr Trevor McLaughlin (25), Long Lane; Mr Jason Wilmont (20), Agherton Gardens; Mr Shane Brown (25), Finvoy Road; and a Dervock man, Mr Daniel Stewart (33), of McArthur Avenue.
The trial continues today.