We can confirm that the unconditional release was secured for the 42 year old man arrested on Wednesday morning in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry under the Terrorism Act in relation to the event commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the death on hungerstrike of Patsy O’Hara. We understand the other three Derry men arrested in the same operation were also released late last night.
We have grave concerns about the arrest of our client who spent 12 hours in police detention. He was accused of various firearms offences, a recent punishment attack, and INLA membership.
Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane said:
“Police searched our client’s family home early on Wednesday morning by virtue of a Terrorism Act search warrant. When he was informed about the ongoing search, he made his way home to be arrested and subsequently taken to the Serious Crime Suite in Musgrave Street, Belfast.
“Without fear of contradiction, we say that not a single shred of any evidence, regardless of how tenuous, was put to him at any stage in the interview process.
“In the final interview, police variously alleged that he was a member of the INLA, the Ulster Volunteer Force and then the IRA on two occasions whilst he was deprived of his liberty. Intelligence was even put to him alleging that he was operating as a masked gunman firing live rounds at the Patsy O’Hara commemoration along with a family member who was engaged in the same activity. In actual fact, the same family member was clearly apparent in footage, wearing a pair of shorts whilst standing beside a crowd of onlookers when the shots were discharged at the hungerstike event. We will be advising him in relation bringing a civil action for unlawful arrest against the Chief Constable in due course.”
More information: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/four-men-released-following-questioningover-derry-inla-show-of-strength-40497887.html
