Derry Court told Gaza march summons led to immediate job dismissal
Remaining four defendants step into the witness box as high-profile trial nears conclusion
One of the defendants in a Palestinian march case told the court that she has lost her job as an advocate with Assist NI after her counter terrorism clearance was withdrawn when she was summonsed.
Davina Pullis was giving evidence in the defence case relating to taking part in an unnotified procession on February 14 2024.
The four are Goretti Horgan (70) of Westland Avenue, Davina Pulis (36) of Knoxhill Park, Robert Paul Maxwell (60) of Rathlin Drive and Jude Coffey (27) of Gartan Square all in Derry are charged with taking part in an illegal procession on February 14 2024.
Previously two defendants former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and People before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin had also been charged but Mr Eastwood accepted an alternative disposal and Mr Harkin was found to have no case to answer.
Pulis told the court that she had been working as an advocate for Assist NI dealing with victims of crime and following her being charged with this offence the PSNI informed her employer they would not agree with her counter terrorism clearance and as a result she was losing her job tomorrow.
Defence counsel Michael Mansfield told the court that this dealt with the issue of 'proportionality' in the response to these type of marches.
Pulis told the court she had been attending the rally at the Diamond and as people began walking down Shipquay Street she 'followed'.
She said she had not considered what was happening was a parade.
Earlier Goretti Horgan had given evidence that she believed the rally dispensing at the Guildhall 'made sense' for safety reasons.
She told the court that she believed she had 'a moral and legal right' to protest about what was going on in Gaza.
The third defendant to give evidence Jude Coffey, said the atmosphere at the time was 'crowded and noisy'.
He was asked was he thinking about the possibility that this was an illegal procession and replied he was more concerned about what was going on in Gaza.
Following his evidence the defence case closed and the hearing prepared for closing submissions.
The case continues.