Ten members of the Orange Order, jailed for a week after allegedly blocking a road in support of their colleagues in Drumcree, were released on bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Lord Justice McCollum said it was a suitable case to grant bail as none of the factors which normally gave rise to concern in such protests were present. He said these included possession of offensive weapons or dangerous devices, such as petrol bombs or the use of violence.
Those arrested included a solicitor, Mr Richard Monteith (40), of Oak Grange, Waringstown, and a former Ulster Unionist Party councillor, Mr Philip Black, from Glenview Drive, Lurgan, who is a computer analyst at Queen's University.
The others defendants, who all live in Lurgan, are Mr Paul Johnston, of Corby Drive, Mr David Hanlon, Princeton Drive, Mr John Black, Rosewood Park, Mr Bryan McDowell, Woodford Park, Mr Roy Graham, Gilford Road, Mr Mark Greenaway, Greenhill Park, Mr Robert Anthony, Woodlane, and Mr Geoffrey Morrison, of William Street, Donacloney.
They were released on £500 bail each and were warned by the judge not to become involved in any form of public protest pending the disposal of the charges.
All 10 men were charged with aggravated criminal damage to a motor car, blocking a road with a tree and obstruction.
Crown counsel, Mr Mark Hamill, said the charges arose out of an incident around midnight on July 9th at Gilford Road, Lurgan, about five miles from Drumcree. He said four cars pulled into a layby and the occupants proceeded to drag a tree, which had been cut down two nights previously, across the road. Soldiers who had been in hiding emerged and challenged the men, who ran off but were apprehended.
Mr Hamill said about a minute later a motorist crashed into the tree. His car was damaged but he received only minor injuries.
Mr Jim Allister, who appeared for all the defendants except Mr Anthony, said his clients frankly acknowledged during interviews that they blocked a straight section of road with a fallen tree. "As they saw it, they were making a peaceful protest in support of their Orange brethren at Drumcree," Mr Allister said. "The action was taken before the general Drumcree protest was sullied by the repulsive violence of the weekend," he added, in reference to the sectarian murder of the three Quinn children in Ballymoney.
Mr Conor O'Kane, representing Mr Anthony, said he had been coerced into driving three men to the scene and denied any voluntary involvement in what happened.