Ógra member on trumped up charges

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff has accused the PSNI of conducting a witch hunt against Ógra Shinn Féin after 22-year-old Danny Turnbull from Omagh, County Tyrone, was arrested and charged with "collecting information useful to terrorists".

According to McElduff, the PSNI raided the Turnbull family home in Omagh at 6.30am on Monday morning 17 November and arrested Danny. During the raid, the PSNI removed a personal computer and a camera.

The camera contained photographs of an Ogra demilitarisation protest at a British Army camp in Omagh earlier in the month and it is on the basis of the photos taken that the 22-year-old was charged at a hearing in Omagh Courthouse on Tuesday 18 November.

"This is fabricated charge," said McElduff, "and Danny will be contesting it strenuously."

The PSNI have targeted Danny Turnbull before and are presently taking a case against him for displaying European license plates on his car, which they say is illegal.

As Ógra Shinn Féin members held a protest outside Omagh Courthouse when Danny Turnbull was appearing in court, members of the PSNI heckled and directed verbal abuse at them.