Man denies throwing missiles at 'Love Ulster' parade

A man has denied in evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he threw missiles at gardaí during the Love Ulster parade riots in the city centre two years ago.

John O’Reilly (aged 31) said: "Cars being burnt, looting of shops - that’s not the kind of person I am."

Mr O’Reilly of Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, who has pleaded not guilty to committing violent disorder on February 25, 2006, told prosecuting counsel, Mr John Quirke BL, under cross-examination, that he could not remember, but he might have picked up a rock that had hit him on the back.

"My back was bruised and my main objective was to get out of there," Mr O’Reilly replied when rejecting a a suggestion from counsel that "it’s very convenient that you remember it now having seen a photograph of you with a rock in your hand."

Mr Quirke had earlier told the jury it would be the State’s case that over 300 protestors were throwing bottles and being extremely intimidating that day during what was due to be a 'Love Ulster' parade for the friends and families of victims of terrorism in the North.

Mr O’Reilly agreed with Mr Quirke that he was "disgusted and embarrassed" by what went on that day, but said what he meant by that was he was ashamed of what happened during the riots and if ever that kind of thing occurred again he would make sure he was not there.

"There were thousands of people who were there that day and they were not ashamed or embarrassed because they were innocent bystanders," replied Mr Quirke.

Mr O’Reilly again denied Mr Quirke’s further assertion that he was "highly involved in this riot".

Garda John O’Sullivan didn’t accept a suggestion from defence counsel, Mr Roger Sweetman SC (with Ms Martina Baxter BL), that it would be difficult for him to make the identification of Mr O’Reilly because he was 15 or so metres away behind the garda riot squad who were holding plastic shields that would have affected his view.

When Mr Sweetman also suggested that there was "nothing remarkable" about Mr O’Reilly’s appearance - "he is a young man, of medium height, medium build and red hair" - Gda O’Sullivan accepted that it would be unlikely that the accused was the only "red-haired man" on O’Connell Street that day.

Gda O’Sullivan also accepted that the photographs showed a number of people who were wearing their hoods up who did not appear to be rioting and agreed that having a hood up "would hardly identify a person as a rioter".

Gda O’Sullivan also agreed with Mr Sweetman that Mr O’Reilly was "not very pleased" when he was arrested that day.

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of four women and eight men.