A 29-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday charged in connection with images — including one of a snowman holding a rocket launcher — displayed at a dissident republican office in Londonderry.

Patrick Joseph Barr is accused of displaying or allowing to be displayed offensive posters in the front window of a building occupied by the group known as Saoradh in Chamberlain Street in the city last year.

Barr from Sackville Street denied the offences.

He is charged that on October 5, 2017, at Chamberlain Street, being the person responsible for the premises, he caused or permitted the display of an offensive poster containing a graphic poster depicting a male nude with a gun and literature with reference to a deceased police officer with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or by which a breach of the peace or public disorder was likely.

The defendant is further charged that on October 26 of last year, being the person responsible for the premises, he caused or permitted the display of a snowman holding a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with the message ‘Wishing you an explosive Christmas’ with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or by which a breach of the peace or public disorder was likely.

A police officer told District Judge Barney McElholm that he believed that he could connect the defendant to both of the charges.

A defence solicitor told the court that the basis of the charges was that when the defendant was stopped and searched under the Justice and Security Act, the police found on him a rates bill and a tenancy agreement for the Chamberlain Street premises.

The solicitor said the charges would be contested and the defendant was released on unconditional police bail until February 2.

The maximum sentence for the offence is a six-month jail sentence and or a fine of up to £5,000.

Belfast Telegraph Digital