Page 6 - Eamon Fox News Today

The PSNI have said they will use “all appropriate legislation” to prevent a reoccurrence of a situation which saw a number of masked men attending court on Monday.

NI secretary questioned at Westminister committee about incident during trial over Troubles era deaths

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said he “simply can’t believe” an incident where men sat in a court with their faces covered during a double murder trial in Belfast was allowed to happen.

Chris Heaton-Harris made his remarks as a senior judge ordered a review of the incident.

Police will use “all appropriate legislation” to prevent a reoccurrence of Monday’s incident where men sat in court with their faces covered as loyalist supergrass Gary Haggarty gave evidence.

About six men with face coverings attended murder trial featuring evidence by ‘supergrass’ Gary Haggarty

Ex-UVF commander Gary Haggarty gives evidence as a man is accused of a 1994 double murder.

The appearance of masked men in the public gallery of Belfast’s Crown Court is a “grave failing” on the part of the courts, an MLA and former barrister has said.

Senior UVF figures who targeted two workmen knew they were “innocent Catholics” and it was “a front” to brand them republicans, a court heard today.

Gary Haggarty also told the trial of James Stewart Smyth at Belfast Crown Court that the UVF knew two murder victims were innocent Catholics.