Loyalist faces bomb hoax charge

A leading loyalist who was sent back to prison this week after the Northern Ireland Secretary suspended his early release license appeared in court in Belfast today charged in connection with the recent sectarian violence in the north of the city.

Gary Smith, 37, of Columbia Street, Belfast, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with membership of the outlawed loyalist Red Hand Defenders and with making a hoax bomb call.

Smith, a self-employed shopkeeper, was remanded in custody until July 27.

Smith was returned to jail on Monday on the orders of Ulster Secretary Dr John Reid.

The same day a Belfast newsroom had received a warning call, allegedly from the Red Hand Defenders, claiming a bomb had been planted at the Catholic Holy Cross Girls Primary School in Ardoyne.

Army bomb disposal experts sent to the school, at the centre of much of the sectarian violence of the past two weeks, and declared it a hoax.

An RUC detective told the court today that when charged Smith made no reply.

But the officer said he believed he could connect Smith to the charges.

Smith, who stood in the dock flanked by two police officers during the brief two-minute hearing, spoke only once, to confirm his name.

There were loud cheers and clapping in the court from around 20 supporters when he gave them a thumbs-up sign as he was led from the dock.