There has been a heavy police presence at Laganside courts while Haggarty has been giving evidence
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said he “simply can’t believe” an incident where men sat in a court with their faces covered during a double murder trial in Belfast was allowed to happen.
Former loyalist paramilitary-turned-supergrass Gary Haggarty has been giving evidence this week in the trial of James Stewart Smyth, 57, of Forthriver Link in Belfast, for the murders of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie.Smyth is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of a firearm and membership of a proscribed organisation, the UVF. He denies the charges.
When concerns were raised with trial judge Mr Justice O’Hara, he warned that anyone covering their faces would be removed from the court. Mr Heaton-Harris responded: “I did see those pictures and I simply can’t believe that happened. I just simply can’t believe it happened.
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