A court has found two men guilty of offences connected to an unauthorised Easter parade staged by dissident republicans in Londonderry in 2023. The non-jury trial centred on an event that drew police attention, resulted in attacks on officers, and led to the discovery of viable explosive devices.
Patrick Anthony Gallagher, aged 34 and residing at Raftery Close in Derry, was convicted of organising a gathering in support of a proscribed organisation, the IRA. Stephen Martin Murney, 42, of Derrybeg Terrace in Newry, was found guilty of delivering an address at such a meeting on 10 April 2023. Two other defendants from Derry—Thomas Ashe Mellon, 50, of Glendermott Road, and Jason Lee Ceulemans, 53, of Creevagh Heights—were acquitted of the charges against them.
Judge Gordon Kerr KC delivered verdicts on Friday following a trial held at Belfast Crown Court. The judge took more than ninety minutes to read his judgment, distinguishing between the roles of the two convicted men.
The gathering took place on 10 April 2023 along a half-mile route beginning at Central Drive in Creggan and ending at Derry City Cemetery. Republicans customarily hold such commemorations to mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising, which commenced on Easter Monday in 1916. According to reporting, the event was organised by the National Commemoration Committee and linked to Saoradh.
How the parade unfolded
The procession was under police surveillance from the moment it began that afternoon. Participants included a colour party dressed in military-style garments, black berets and dark glasses. As the marchers passed Creggan shops, the prosecution contended that Murney and Gallagher were positioned prominently in front of the crowd.
When the parade halted at Linsfort Drive, a police land rover came under attack from masked youths who hurled petrol bombs and masonry at the vehicle. Officers sustained injuries during the disorder.
Upon reaching the cemetery, a man was seen carrying several bags towards the rear of a toilet block. During the commemoration ceremony, Gallagher functioned as master of ceremonies, inviting the "Derry Brigade Irish Republican Army" to lay a wreath and introducing Murney as a "leading Newry republican" to deliver an oration.
What was said at the gathering?
Murney's speech concluded with a quotation attributed to republican Maire Drumm:
It isn't enough to shout 'Up the IRA'. The important thing is to join the IRA.His remarks were recorded and subsequently shared on the social media platform TikTok. After Murney finished speaking, Gallagher asked those assembled to remain and assist the colour party in dispersing in an orderly manner.
Witnesses observed members of the crowd raising umbrellas despite clear weather, creating a shield around the colour party as it moved towards the toilet block. The marchers then removed their military-style clothing, which was subsequently burned.
What evidence led to convictions?
The following day, Ammunition Technical Officers were deployed to manage four viable pipe bombs discovered by police in a bin beside the toilets. According to additional reporting, the pipe bombs contained ball bearings designed to increase shrapnel dispersal.
All four defendants were subsequently arrested. When investigators examined Murney's mobile telephone, they uncovered messages exchanged between him and Mellon regarding the graveside oration. Ceulemans sent Mellon a message stating:
I'll have Murney's speech done by tomorrow night and ready for you to bastardise.Mellon, who did not attend the parade according to a senior prosecutor, responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
The prosecution characterised the parade as a "highly choreographed event" that "involved planned violence" and described it as an IRA "propaganda exercise". Prosecutors argued that messages between the defendants demonstrated Mellon's awareness that Murney's speech would encourage support for the IRA.
The trial took place in November 2025 following a reserved judgment announced in December 2025. All four defendants denied the allegations and declined to testify during proceedings.
How did the verdicts differ?
Judge Kerr's judgment revealed a nuanced assessment of the defendants' roles. Although Gallagher was convicted of managing the gathering, he was acquitted of addressing it. Conversely, Murney was found guilty of delivering an address but cleared of organising the meeting. Mellon and Ceulemans were acquitted of all charges.
When the judge announced the acquittals for Mellon and Ceulemans, they embraced Murney and Gallagher before departing the dock. Judge Kerr agreed to release both convicted men on continuing bail pending sentencing, scheduled for two months hence.
Key Facts
- Patrick Gallagher convicted of managing a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation; Stephen Murney convicted of addressing such a meeting on 10 April 2023
- Four viable pipe bombs containing ball bearings were discovered in the cemetery the day after the parade
- Police officers were attacked with petrol bombs and masonry during the event
- Two co-defendants, Thomas Ashe Mellon and Jason Lee Ceulemans, were acquitted of all charges
- Sentencing is scheduled for two months following the Friday verdict
