Bailed Omagh man refused permission to travel to Derry for Easter

AN APPLICATION to vary bail conditions to allow a Co Tyrone man facing terrorism charges to spend the weekend in Derry with his girlfriend was refused today.

A barrister acting on behalf of Sean Pearson made application at Belfast Crown Court which was rejected by Judge Neil Rafferty KC.

From Culmore Park in Omagh, 32-year old Pearson has been charged with three offences dating back to May 6, 2023 when it is alleged that a car was hijacked and used to transport a hoax device to a police station.

Pearson has been charged with threatening to compel a witness to use a VW Golf for an unlawful purpose namely conveying a hoax bomb device to Omagh PSNI,  placing an article inside a vehicle with the intention of causing a bomb hoax and possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Having spent a period in custody, Pearson was granted bail and a number of conditions were imposed.

These include residing in Omagh and adhering to a 10pm to 7am curfew.

Defence barrister Jonathan Browne said he was seeking a temporary change to Pearson’s residence this Friday and Saturday.

This, he said, was to allow his client to spend this coming weekend with his partner who lives in Derry and that he would return to Omagh on Sunday morning.

Judge Rafferty asked if Pearson had applied to stay with his partner before, and when told he had not, the Judge noted ‘Easter Weekend in Derry’ was the first time such a request has been made.

The defence barrister told Judge Rafferty this was a ‘reasonably recent’ relationship.

Mr Browne also said that Pearson has been on bail ‘for a significant period for time’, that he had not breached any of the conditions imposed and that variations in the past have allowed him to travel to Donegal without incident.

Addressing Crown concerns about Pearson being in Derry over the Easter period, Mr Browne said: “I have taken instructions from Mr Pearson directly.

“He has no interest in going to any form of parade or commemoration – legal or illegal – while he in Derry.

“He effectively wants to go, stay with his partner overnight for those two nights and then make his way back to Omagh.”

Urging Judge Rafferty to grant the application, Mr Browne said Pearson was well aware that any breach would result in him being ‘back in custody’.

Judge Rafferty asked about the location of the address in Derry and was informed it was in the Creggan area.

Following this, the Judge said: “The application is refused.”