Stephen Murney acquitted of all remaining charges

Posted by Jim on February 24, 2014

Stephen Murney was cleared of outstanding ‘terrorism’ charges this
afternoon amid strong criticism of the system of internment by remand
being operated by the PSNI police and Crown prosecutors against
republicans in the north of Ireland.

The 30-year-old Newry man is a local spokesperson for the socialist
republican political party eirigi. He was arrested at the start of
December 2012 by detectives investigating what they described as

He was subsequently charged with the collection and distribution of
photographs of the PSNI engaged in acts of harassment and intimidation
of the local nationalist community. The photographs were described as
‘information likely to be of use to terrorists’.

Other charges of “possessing items for use in terrorism” were dismissed
late last year. The charges were thrown out when the items in question,
taken from his house in a PSNI raid two years ago, were found to be an
old band uniform and toy guns belonging to Mr Murney’s son.

Mr Murney pointed out during his trial that the photographs were taken
by him in his capacity as Eirigi PRO in order to record, document and
publicise PSNI abuses.

Speaking to the Newry Times today following his acquittal and release,
he said, “My imprisonment for the past 14 months was as a direct result
of my political views and my membership of eirigi – an open and
legitimate political party.

“Those charges, of which I have been found to be innocent, were brought
against me by the PSNI who objected to fact that I recorded, documented
and publicised PSNI personnel abusing the human and civil rights of
citizens in the Newry area.

Even though it was clear from the very outset that these charges were
completely without substance, both the PSNI and prosecution service
have persisted with a legalised charade which resulted in my
imprisonment from December 2012. There is no other way of describing
that charade except as ‘internment by remand’.

Murney vowed to continue his role as PRO. “I intend to continue with my
activism on behalf of Eirigi,” he added.

Eirigi’s general secretary, Breandan Mac Cionnaith, who attended the
trial, said, “From the outset we have said that the charges against our
party comrade were nothing more than a spurious means to remove a
committed and dedicated political activist from his family and his
community.

“In short, Stephen’s imprisonment has been tantamount to ‘internment by
remand’. Stephen’s case also highlights, yet again, the false claims
made by constitutional nationalist parties in the Six Counties. This
case clearly epitomises the reality of modern political policing.

He continued, “Had the PSNI and prosecution service been successful in
their action against Stephen, it is very evident that this case would
have had profound implications in relation to Article 10 of the
European Convention of Human Rights. Article 10 states that everyone
has the right to freedom of expression.

“That right includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and
impart information and ideas without interference by state authorities.
Stephen’s arrest and imprisonment was a blatant but crude attempt at
political censorship and the open suppression of legitimately-held
political opinions in direct contravention of those Article 10 rights.

“In that regard, this case is strongly reminiscent of the type of
charges brought by RUC against political activists and others under the
old and internationally discredited Special Powers Act.

Mac Cionnaith added, “Had the PSNI and prosecution service succeeded in
this case, I have no doubt that it would have led to the arrests of
other political activists and to possible gagging orders on political
publications as a first step towards an outright ban on eirigi as a
political party.”