An “influential” Dungannon man has been denied bail and remanded into custody following alleged involvement in helping to erect a mosque replica atop a bonfire, claiming he was asked to do so my two masked men because he was a “tree surgeon” by trade.
Brian Conrad Neill (56) – of Hollow Mills – appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court to answer to charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or displaying written material intending thereby to stir up hatred or arouse fear.
He appeared in the dock and spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and that he understood the charges against him.
Constable Morgan said she believed she could connect Neill to the charges.
Providing an outline of the facts, constable Morgan said on July 8 police were providing cover at Moygashel bonfire site in order to keep the peace and prevent any offences.
Police were made aware that a structure had been added to top of the bonfire covered by blue tarpaulin.
They observed crowds of 70 to 100 people gathered in a carpark and on the road in front of the site.
A number of males were observed on top of the bonfire where the structure had been added. They appeared to be wearing dark clothes and balaclavas.
Evidence gathering was commenced using body worn cameras and an escort unit to identify those involved.
One male was identified not wearing a face covering at the top of the bonfire dressed in blue jeans, a navy with yellow striped Northern Ireland top, with a distinctive yellow circle on the front, and appeared to be assisting two masked men putting signs on the bonfire.
When the tarpaulin was removed the mosque structure was revealed with the Arabic lettering which was translated as reading ‘Islamic Fascism’, drawing comparisons between certain militant Islamist ideologies and European fascist regimes of the 20th century.
After this was revealed all males made their way down and locked the gates to the site behind them as they left. They ran into a group of “100 strong” some of whom put up umbrellas to hide their identities from the police helicopter.
The man in Northern Ireland top was seen getting into blue BMW and leaving the Moygashel area.
The car was stopped by police on the Ranfurley Road, Dungannon and the male identified himself as Brian Neill.
He was arrested at midnight on suspicion of incitement to hatred. A pair of yellow and black grip gloves were found his in jeans pocket.
Neill said during interview that he had been asked by two unknown males in balaclavas to assist with the structure.
He admitted climbing up and assisting in putting on the two signs using an “orange strap”.
Denying any knowledge of what the structure was or what the signage read, he said he climbed down before the structure was revealed, although the constable noted he can be seen on helicopter cameras looking beneath the tarp.
He said, while he put up the signs and is able to read, he “did not bother to read what was written on them”.
Neill also denies harbouring any hatred towards immigrants or those of Muslim faith.
His phone was seized and is being downloaded by police but Neill refused to provide his pin for access.
Police objected to bail on the basis they view Neill as likely to further commit further offences.
He has 123 previous convictions including driving offences, breach of peace, riotous behaviour and serious assault dating from 1989 to the most recent breach of a community based order in 2025 which is currently under appeal.
The constable said Mr Neill is believed to be very influential in the area and is believed to be influential within an “organised group of people who are likely to cause public disorder”.
Defence counsel asked if police were aware of any previous offences on his record for committing hate-related crimes and in response the constable stated there was one offence on his record from 2007 – also in July – where it he was found to have engaged in a provocative act, disorderly behaviour, resisting and attempting to assault police.
Counsel argued the 2007 event was not a hate-related incident.
Counsel also insisted his client was unaware of what was under the tarp and that he had gone to Moygashel to have a few drinks with friends and had only been asked to help with the structure because of his day job working as a tree surgeon.
According to counsel, Neill denies having any involvement with Moygashel Bonfire Association and the reason he refused to part with the phone’s pin was as it was his “wife’s phone”.
In reply to counsel’s submission, Judge Rafferty said, “That doesn’t impress me. This man is asking the court to believe he went to Moygashel to have a couple of cans of cider with friends and just happened upon this bonfire?”
He continued: “Anyone who lives in the jurisdiction, the Moygashel bonfire is notorious and has been for years.
“If I was asked – or any reasonable person was asked – to help with the bonfire and there was tarpaulin over something I would recoil in horror at what could possibly be under that tarpaulin.”
Commenting on the “disgraceful nature” of the bonfire effigies, he said: “The people who run this particular bonfire have a clear agenda and it’s an agenda of hate and bigotry against others, whichever particular group they decide to choose.”
The Judge denied the bail application and remanded Neill into custody, informing him he has a right to make a fresh application before the High Court.
The case is set to reappear in four weeks on August 5 where Neill will be produced via video link.
The court heard the defendant is currently in receipt of Universal Credit and subject to checks being carried out Judge Rafferty agreed to grant legal aid.
