Wolfe Tones criticise Londonderry judge

IRISH folk band The Wolfe Tones have criticised a Londonderry judge who fined a man for playing their music close to an Orange Order parade in the city.

27-year-old Sean Johnston of Hollymount Park was fined 250 and handed a suspended jail sentence for playing Wolfe Tones music on his car stereo in July last year as he drive on Spencer Road past people attending the annual 12th of July parade.

Passing sentence on Mr Johnston, District Judge Barney McElholm said that if there was such a thing as a good time and a good place to play The Wolfe Tones, it was not driving up Spencer Road during a loyal parade. Mr McElholm added that it was very doubtful that anyone who goes around playing The Wolfe Tones all day could ever have sense talked into them.

But, the defendants conviction and the comments from the judge have provoked an angry reaction for The Wolfe Tone's themselves.

Speaking to local paper, the Derry News, one of the bands members Brian Warfield said he was prepared to come to the city and speak on behalf of Mr Johnston should he decide to appeal the conviction.

Mr Warfield is quoted as saying: "I think it was a disgraceful decision. It is ridiculous when you think about it that everyone is now expected to turn off or turn down their car stereo any day there is an Orange parade on.

"I just think this is a total injustice. There is a peace agreement and sending out a message like this to young kids is not a good idea."

"I have spoken to the young guy and explained to him the danger that I think there is for him in as much as he now a criminal record.

"If he goes for a visa for America or Australia, he is immediately flagged.

"I recommended that he should appeal it.

"I told him that I would support him with any appeal and I would be prepared to come to the court to speak on his behalf, although I'm not sure how these things work."

The world famous band are renowned for having written and recorded some hard core republican ballads including the 'Celtic Symphony' which includes the chorus 'Ooh Ah , up the 'RA, as well as other like Joe McDonnell-in praise of the IRA hunger striker who died in 1981. The band have also recorded songs like 'The Rifles of the IRA', 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans', 'The Man from Mullingar', 'Padraic Pearse' and 'The Big Strong Man.'

Mr Warfield claimed while bands taking part in Orange Order parades played 'anti-Catholic' music, the music of The Wolfe Tone's was not sectarian.

"Our music is not is not bigoted, it's not sectarian. We call ourselves after Wolfe Tone who was a Protestant.

"We want a united Ireland of all people. We don't discriminate against other religions with our music, we don't put down other religions.

"We don't sing hateful songs like some of the Orange orders have about how they hate the Pope."