Crowd Gathers As 18-Year Old In Court Over Patsy O'Hara Shirt

A demonstration was held outside Derry Court today as a teen was brought to court over wearing a commemorative Patsy O’Hara shirt.

Christopher Dillon, 18 years old, of Rinmire Drive in Derry faces one charge of wearing a T-shirt on July 12th this year, with the INLA logo on it, which prosecutors claim indicates that he supported or was a member of a proscribed organisation this year.

A crowd of demonstrators carrying republican flags protested in Bishop Street as he  appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today and was charged with wearing a T-shirt purporting to show support for a proscribed organisation, namely the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

“Today, we stood shoulder to shoulder with like-minded revolutionary republicans from across the city to protest the charging of a local teenager for wearing a commemorative top in memory of Derry hero and Hunger Striker, Patsy O’Hara, “ the Republican Socialist Youth Movement (RSYM), the youth branch of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), said in a statement, concluding that “We utterly condemn this blatant act of political policing. Once again, the British state has shown its willingness to criminalise the remembrance of Irish patriots. Let us be absolutely clear: no matter what you throw at us, you will never stop us from remembering our patriot dead. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their memory will continue to inspire future generations”. 

After a PSNI police officer connected the accused to the charge,  the 18-year-old defendant was charged and released on curfew until September. 

Dillon was released on bail on condition he observe a curfew from 8pm until 6am, does not enter the Fountain Estate or the Walls and does not go within 100 metres of any police operation, parade or protest.

He will appear again on September 2.