Politics

Heaton-Harris ‘simply can’t believe’ masked men allowed to sit in Belfast court during murder trial

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

A group of masked men attended the trial of of James Stewart Smyth, 57, of Forthriver Link in Belfast for the murders of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie. Former loyalist paramilitary turned supergrass Gary Haggarty has been giving evidence during the trial. Photograph: Pacemaker Belfast
A group of masked men attended the trial of of James Stewart Smyth, 57, of Forthriver Link in Belfast for the murders of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie. Former loyalist paramilitary turned supergrass Gary Haggarty has been giving evidence during the trial. Photograph: Pacemaker Belfast
Wed Oct 25 2023 - 12:49

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.

Mr Heaton-Harris told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan has also expressed her shock over the scenes at Belfast Crown Court on Monday.

Former loyalist paramilitary-turned-supergrass Gary Haggarty has been giving evidence this week in the trial of James Stewart Smyth (57), of Forthriver Link in Belfast, for the murders of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie.

The accused is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of a firearm and membership of a proscribed organisation, the UVF. He denies the charges.

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Mr Convie and Mr Fox were sitting in a parked car at a building site when they were shot dead by a gunman standing in an adjacent playground beside North Queen Street in May 1994.

There has been a heavy police presence at Laganside courts while Haggarty has been giving evidence.

However, on Monday, a number of men wearing face coverings sat in the public gallery of the court for several hours.

When concerns were raised with trial judge Mr Justice O’Hara, he warned that anyone covering their faces would be removed from the court.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty
Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Addressing the issue, committee chair Simon Hoare asked Mr Heaton-Harris: “I wondered if you wanted to put on the record your thoughts on what might be described as appropriate or inappropriate attire for a trial?”

He responded: “I did see those pictures and I simply can’t believe that happened. I just simply can’t believe it happened. The Lady Chief Justice has also put on the record her shock over this.”

SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said: “People in my constituency drive up part of it and see on an official billboard hoarding a UVF billboard like you would see advertising a breakfast cereal or a holiday company, and then you see masked men going in … I hope it just gives a sense of the stench that comes off Northern Ireland and the conditions that people are still expected to live under.”

She added: “I am glad you expressed your very clear revulsion of it.”

A spokesperson for Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland said: “The Lady Chief Justice considers that this was not acceptable and should not have happened.

“The judge dealt with the matter appropriately when it was brought to his attention. The Lady Chief Justice has asked NICTS (Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service) to identify how this incident occurred.” - PA