Derry Court: Anti-lock down school protester convicted

A man has been convicted at Derry Magistrate's Court today of being involved in an incident in which protesters entered a local school to protest about children having to wear masks during the Covid pandemic.

Charles Paul O'Neill (56) of Creggan Street in Derry was convicted of three charges.

He was found guilty of entering St Bridget's School as a trespasser and refusing to leave when asked by a designated person on September 11 2020.

He was also convicted of obstructing police on September 29 2020.

O'Neill who represented himself didn't turn up for today's hearing claiming he was ill.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that a letter produced by the defendant proved nothing and ordered the case to proceed as enough time had elapsed since the offences. 

The school principal gave evidence of how the four men were allowed entry to the school after they said they had a child protection issue. 

He said once they were inside they behaved in an 'aggressive' manner and refused to stop filming when asked.

The principal said he tried to 'de-escalate' the situation by telling them he would talk to them outside the building but he said they just 'kept on and on'.

The court heard that the protesters claimed 'we are the people' and said they were serving legal documents on the school in relation to children having to wear masks.

The principal said he was 'very concerned' at the behaviour because it was taking place in the main thoroughfare of the school where pupils would be coming after their lunch.

Another member of the school staff said she had 'buzzed' them in after they said they had a child protection issue.

The court was shown CCTV taken inside the school showing the four men in the building. 

Further CCTV taken in the Strand Road PSNI Station on September 29 was also shown when O'Neill coukd be seen arguing with police and demanding to see their oath of office.

He was asked to hand over his phone and when he failed to comply he could be seen being tackled by police officers and placed in a cell.

Judge McElholm said that it was the prosecution case the men had gained access to the school using 'false pretences'.

He said the school had been following 'legal guidelines' in relation to Covid.

The judge said people were entitled to have different views about masks, lock downs and everything else and could raise the issues in various ways.

But, he said, 'what you don't do is go to a school where there are vulnerable children and create a scene.'

The judge said that the legal documents the protesters were on about were 'gobblygook' and meant nothing.

He convicted O'Neill of all charges and adjourned the case until March 30.

He said if the defendant failed to turn up an arrest warrant would be issued.