Derry men jailed over mural painted on dissident republican headquarters

Two men have been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today after being convicted of painting a mural at the headquarters of dissident republicans in the city depicting a snowman with a command wire.

William McDonnell (37) of Balbane Pass and Jordan Devine (22) of Bishop Street both in Derry were charged with possessing articles giving rise to a reasonable suspicion they were members or supporters of a proscribed organisation on dates between November 23, 2022 and January 19, 2023.

A prosecution barrister said that both men were observed outside Junior McDaid House in Derry's Chamberlain Street painting a mural depicting a snowman and a Santa Claus. 

The snowman is shown detonating a command wire to a device and the words 'we haven't gone away you know.' 

Video evidence was shown to the court of both men standing outside Junior McDaid House which the prosecutor said was the 'office of Saoradh and other organisations.'

Footage was also shown of the Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams responding to a call for the IRA with the phrase 'they haven't gone away you know.'

The prosecution barrister also said there were two images on a phone belonging to Devine one of the mural itself and one of the two individuals standing 'proudly' beside it.

She told the court McDonnell accepted painting the mural but not that it indicated support for a proscribed organisation. 

She said Devine accepted he was there but said he was only standing outside. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that this mural was painted in the context of an attempted murder of two police officers days before using a command wire. 

The court heard that 'a reasonable observer' would believe anyone involved in the mural was a supporter of a proscribed organisation.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney for McDonnell said that if there had been a reasonable suspicion his client was a supporter or member of a proscribed organisation he should have been arrested at the scene. 

Judge McElholm said he accepted the prosecution case had been proven as the very fact they were outside Junior McDaid House was enough to show support for a proscribed organisation as it was 'well known' this venue was attended by supporters of an illegal organisation.

He said the phrase by Gerry Adams was one that 'resonates in this part of the world'.

It was this organisation saying 'we are still here, still active and still doing what we do' and showing support for what is known as the dissident IRA.

He convicted both men and sentenced McDonnell to four months in prison and Devine to three months in prison.