Derry man charged after note found during prison search

A Derry man was today charged with possession of an article for use in terrorism.

William McDonnell, 27, from Rinmore Drive, was charged in connection with an incident at Maghaberry prison on June 5.

Derry Magistrates Court was told that McDonnell was visiting a republican prisoner in the prison.

He was searched in the reception area by a prison officer who discovered a small package in McDonnell’s inside jacket pocket.

McDonnell was allowed to leave the prison.

However, a police officer told the court that on closer inspection, the package was a tightly wrapped ball of cling film which contained a note made of cigarette papers joined together.

The officer said there were references in the note to people by capital letters, names and nicknames.

Prisoners were referred to as POWs and reference was also made to the ‘32s’ which, the officer said, is understood to refer to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (CSM).

He said there were a number of references to behaviour of prisoners about ‘loose talk’ and guilty pleas.

The officer said that the tone of the note was that of someone in charge of an organization that was ‘disappointed by the behaviour of certain individuals’.

An application for bail on behalf of McDonnell was refused and the case was adjourned until July 17.