Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Three charged over show of strength in bar
Judge grants bail over threats case
TWENTY masked men stormed a bar to issue threats to five people for alleged anti-social behaviour, a court heard yesterday.
Stools were overturned, two men punched and customers cornered inside the Mount Inn on North Queen Street during the “show of strength”, police claimed.
A judge was told a list of names was read out and warnings issued that their alleged activities would not be tolerated.
Details emerged as three men appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court accused of being part of the crowd who went into the pub on Wednesday night.
David Majury, 47, of Church Green in Holywood, Co Down and two 25-yearold Belfast men – Christopher Moore, of Woodvale Drive and Andrew Morrow of Hopewell Crescent – are jointly charged with affray and unlawful assembly.
A detective claimed they were in the group who arrived in a convoy of vehicles at the pub in the Tiger’s Bay district of North Belfast.
She said: “It would appear a show of strength was made when a crowd of masked men stormed the bar.” CCTV footage shows customers being directed into a corner before the message was delivered, the court heard.
The detective added: “The address was about anti-social behaviour and how it would not be tolerated. They named five names and said these people were under threat.”
It was confirmed police have now contacted all five to issue warnings about their safety. Two men allegedly punched in the incident have not made a complaint and none of the accused are charged with assaulting them.
Lawyers unsuccessfully argued there was insufficient evidence to connect their clients to the charges.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall granted bail to the defendants on conditions including a ban on contacting their co-accused or any witnesses and excluding them from part of Belfast surrounding the bar. They are due back in court again in eight weeks.
BELFAST MAGISTRATES COURT