Chilling Testimony: Terror Unleashed in Pitt Park

A woman who was inside an East Belfast community centre when the building was approached by a gang of up to 40 masked and hooded men said today (Tuesday) the incident left her “terrified”.

Toni Johnston - the daughter of Ian Ogle who was murdered yards from his Cluan Place home in January 2019 - was called to give evidence at a trial concerning two men accused of three offences arising from an incident in thePitt Park/Fraser Pass area of the city.

A woman who was inside an East Belfast community centre when the building was approached by a gang of up to 40 masked and hooded men said today (Tuesday) the incident left her “terrified”. Toni Johnston - the daughter of Ian Ogle who was murdered yards from his Cluan Place home in January 2019 - was called to give evidence at a trial concerning two men accused of three offences arising from an incident in thePitt Park/Fraser Pass area of the city.

Stephen Matthews and Derek George Lammey Stand Accused

Stephen Matthews, 62, and 60-year-old co-accused Derek George Lammey have both been charged with unlawful assembly, affray and intimidation dating back to February 2021. Both Matthews from Meadow Park in Ballywalter and Lammey of Hill Crest in Bangor have denied all three charges levelled against them.

Alarming Incident Captured on CCTV

It’s the Crown’s case that the pair were part of a group of around 40 men who, on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 2, 2021, acted in a way that was “dripping with intimidation and designed to engender terror”. Prior to Ms Johnston being called to give evidence, a prosecuting barrister opened the Crown’s case against Matthew and Lammey. He told the non-jury trial that on the afternoon in question a group of men who “took precautions to hide their identity” gathered in the Pitt Park area.

Witness Testimonies

The Crown KC said the “threatening and intimidating group” then made their way to the Ballymac Centre intent on a fight or a confrontation. With people inside the Centre, it’s the Crown’s case that when they arrived the crowd of men started “gesturing and shouting out to the occupants inside” before milling around in the area for a few minutes then returning back in the direction they came from. The incident was captured both on CCTV and on body-worn cameras worn by police officers at the scene.

He said the footage “displayed a large group in a sinister context” who were acting aggressively and gesturing to those in the Centre and who were not deterred by the presence of armed police. The prosecuting barrister added: “This was not a peaceful demonstration or a meeting of a social club ... this was a large intimidating and threatening group.”

The first witness called to give evidence was Toni Johnston who confirmed that she was present inside the Ballymac Centre that afternoon. Ms Johnston said she had been in her aunt’s house in the Pitt Park area when, at around 1.30 pm, her aunt’s friend “came rushing into the house and told us it wasn’t safe”. She said she, her aunt, and her mother left the house left in a panic and made their way to the Ballymac Centre.

Identification Amidst Chaos

When she was asked by the Crown barrister how she found it when they arrived at the Centre, Ms Johnston said it was “absolute chaos” as there were “panicking woman, children, and dogs” present. She said that at around 2.30 pm she looked out from an upstairs window and saw a “crowd of men” outside who were “covered head to toe in scarves and dark clothing”. When questioned about what else she observed, Ms Johnston said when the group saw police they “sort of back-tracked”. She was then asked how the incident made her feel and she replied “terrified”. She also confirmed she recognized some of the group but said “I wasn’t willing to name them in fear or repercussions for myself”.

Police Confirmation and Testimony

Also called to give evidence was a police constable who was present at the scene and who said he recognized both Matthews and Lammey amongst the group. From the witness box, the constable confirmed he knew both men well and that despite them both wearing masks, he was able to identify both.

Concerning Matthews, the officer said he had known him for “many years” and identified him from his height and build and that some of his face was visible. When asked about Lammey, the constable said the accused spoke to him as he passed him as part of the group and that he recognized his voice and his eyes. The police officer was also questioned by the barristers representing both defendants. When he was asked by Lammey’s barrister Joseph O’Keeffe if he felt threatened by the group that afternoon,