Nine local men appeared before the magistrates court in Derry yesterday charged with offences relating to an anti-war protest at the US-owned Raytheon guided systems plant in the Springtown area of the city on Wednesday.
The nine, aged from 27 to 63, are jointly charged with unlawful assembly and with aggravated burglary with a crowbar with intent to cause unlawful damage.
They were all remanded in custody to appear before the same court via a video link on September 7th. Defence solicitors told resident magistrate Barney McElholm that bail applications would be made in the High Court.
The nine defendants are journalist Eamon McCann (63), Westland Avenue; Seán Heaton (34), Beechwood Avenue; Éamon O'Donnell, Campion Court; Colm Bryce (40), Westland Avenue; Patrick McDaid (36), Marlborough Street; Kieran Gallagher (40), the Craft Village; Michael Gallagher (27), Beechwood Avenue; Gary Donnelly (35), Kildrum Gardens, and James Kelly (45), Kular Court.
As the defendants arrived in police custody at the courthouse, about 25 supporters, some of them carrying anti-war placards, chanted "stopping war crimes is no crime".
Two police witnesses said the defendants were arrested, charged and cautioned at either Strand Road PSNI station in Derry or Coleraine PSNI station late on Wednesday night and early yesterday morning. The witnesses said they believed they could connect the defendants to the charges and asked for a remand to enable them to complete their inquiries.
The court was told that in reply to the charge, Mr McCann replied: "You look at the news coming in from Lebanon and you have to be doing something."
Mr Bryce replied when charged: "I would just like to say I was engaged in a legitimate peaceful protest designed to draw attention to Raytheon and to the war crimes in the Middle East."
Michael Gallagher said: "I stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Lebanon and Palestine who Raytheon have some sort of responsibility to share in their murders."
Mr Donnelly said: "My action on the night was a direct response to the shameful presence of Raytheon in Derry. They are currently responsible for the mass deaths of men, women and children in Palestine and Lebanon."