9 bandsmen on disorder charges

A former loyalist terrorist who shot the Sinn Fein president 14 years ago was one of nine bandsmen charged at Derry Court yesterday…

A former loyalist terrorist who shot the Sinn Fein president 14 years ago was one of nine bandsmen charged at Derry Court yesterday for their part in street disturbances during last year's Apprentice Boys' parade in Derry. John Gregg (40), unemployed, of Barnett Square, Rathcoole, Belfast, wounded Mr Gerry Adams in a UFF gun attack on March 14th, 1984. He served nine years of an 18-year sentence before he was released on licence. Gregg was one of nine members of the Cloughfern Young Conquerors' Band who pleaded guilty to public order offences arising from last year's parade.

Imposing a seven-month suspended sentence and a £200 fine on Gregg, the magistrate, Mr John Fyffe, said: "That one man should go to prison and the rest of them walk out, I think would be contrary to the laws of natural justice." Penalties ranging from a binding over order to a £100 fine were imposed on the other eight defendants.