‘Vindictive’ fine for McGlinchey

Republican group eirigi hit out yesterday at fines imposed on the son of murdered INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey for his part in protests at Stormont against the Iraq war.

Dominic Joseph McGlinchey of Gulladuff Road, Bellaghy in County Derry, was found guilty of assault on a PSNI member and disorderly behaviour amid demonstrations at the attendance at Parliament Buildings in May 2007 of Tony Blair, the British Prime mMnister at the time.

McGlinchey was fined a total of 550 pounds after being convicted in his absence at Belfast Magistrates Court.

Two others who travelled from Dublin to take part in the demonstrations were cleared of similar charges.

Following sentencing by District Judge Harry McKibbin, eirigi said the judicial system had been used to punish their members who were involved in a peaceful protest.

The group blasted what it said was a “farcical” trial in which PSNI ‘witnesses’ did not arrive and the allegations of assault were immediately disproved with video evidence.

A PSNI inspector insisted that McGlinchey -- whose father was assassinated in 1994 -- had assaulted him despite footage which showed that up to five officers had first detained the accused.

The three were also forced to register at a PSNI barracks regularly throughout their 18 month experience, at what it said was great cost to themselves and their young families.

Spokesman Breandan Mac Cionnaith said of the three, McGlinchey had only missed his court appearance because of a misunderstanding that meant he was out of the country.

“An opportunity presented itself in the absence from one court sitting of Dominic, a well-known republican and consequently fair game for the British courts,” he said.

Urgent Appeal