Ógra protest at Omagh case

Ógra Shinn Féin held a protest outside Omagh Courthouse on Tuesday 20 April, during the ongoing trial of local Ógra member Daniel Turnbull.

Turnbull was arrested last December and charged with having photographs likely to be of use to terrorists. The photographs in question were taken at an Ógra Shinn Féin protest at Lisanelly British Army Barracks in November last year.

At the hearing on Tuesday, the case was put back until 18 May, while the prosecution prepared forensic reports.

Barry McColgan, Six-County Ógra Shinn Féin Organiser, called for an immediate end to the trial. Speaking after the hearing, he said: "This show trial has gone on for too long; everyone knows the PSNI don't have a case. All Daniel did was take pictures at a protest and they are using the Terrorism Act as a means of persecuting young republicans."

"Daniel has had to endure a lot since his arrest. He was taken to Antrim Barracks for interrogation, where he was asked to name all Ógra members the Special Branch had built up files on. Failure to comply, he was told, would result in him being locked up with a loyalist, and true to their word when Daniel was transferred to Maghaberry, he was locked up with a loyalist prisoner.

"Although Daniel is now out on bail, he is not allowed within 500 metres of a crown forces installation, which is ridiculous given the enormity of the British and PSNI presence in the North. It also means that he can't go to his local health centre and until recently was not allowed to live in his house, because it is within the 500-metre restriction zone."