200 SF supporters protest outside court

200 Sinn Fein supporters protested outside the court tonight before the charges against Denis Donaldson were read.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, flanked by members of his Assembly team, criticised Secretary of State John Reid for cancelling a meeting with his party tomorrow.

On his way into the courtroom, he said: “What is he afraid of? Our party have no questions to answer on these matters.

“I am sure that in the fullness of time, when all the dust settles down, that Denis Donaldson will walk free. I am also very, very certain that when the spin and the political theatre is finished, this process is going to have to be put together again, and we as a party are going to be needed to do that.”

Mr Adams said that the Sinn Fein head of administration had been “hung, drawn and quartered” by media reports.

“I can tell you categorically that if the allegation is that there has been some intelligence-gathering exercise, I can tell you that Sinn Fein has not been involved in any such exercise.”

Mr Adams was joined outside the court by Bairbre de Brun, a minister in the beleaguered power-sharing executive, and Assembly members Gerry Kelly, Dara O’Hagan, Mary Nelis and Sue Ramsey.

Security was tight outside the court as the protesters queued to get inside to watch the proceedings.