A key prosecution witness to the murder of Catholic community worker Kevin McDaid has been under 23-hour prison lock-up to keep him from men accused of the killing.
Lawyers for Peter Neill revealed the steps taken to ensure complete separation while he was in custody, following an alleged confrontation with loyalists putting up flags close to the scene of the fatal attack in Coleraine.
Neill, 41, of Westbourne Crescent in the town, faces charges of incitement to hatred and behaviour likely to incite hatred over claims that he shouted sectarian abuse during the incident last Wednesday.
He was granted bail to stay at an undisclosed address in Kilrea and ordered to keep out of Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush areas.
Prosecutors alleged that as flags were being erected close to the Heights neighbourhood where 49-year-old Mr McDaid was beaten to death in May, Neill began shouting abuse about loyalists.
Opposing bail, Crown counsel Conor Maguire said it was claimed that the accused was the leader of a group of at least 20 people intent on stirring up trouble in the area.
But defence counsel Kieran Mallon said he denied making any sectarian remarks.
The court heard Neill had asked police if it would be illegal to take down the flags. He was allegedly told it would not be, but that it would breach the peace.
Mr Mallon said his client asked whether it was not also a breach to enter a nationalist area to put up flags.
'Political policing'
According to Neill this represented political policing, the court was told.
It was also alleged that some of those in the group erecting the emblems were chanting abuse about McDaid.
Neill is one of the chief Crown witnesses in the case against ten men accused in connection with the father-of-four's murder. Mr Mallon said his client had been put under 23-hour lock up in a unit within Maghaberry Prison to keep him away from those charged.
Referring to charges against Neill, the barrister added: "One has no love of the language that was alleged to be used, but it would take very many prisons to be erected in this country if every person who made a remark like that alleged to have been made were arrested."
At first the Crown objected to a proposed bail address in Kilrea due to its venue for a Twelfth of July Orange parade this year and previous problems during the marching season.
But after Mr Maguire confirmed police would prefer the accused went to that location rather than back to the Heights area, Mr Justice Treacy granted bail on certain conditions.
As well as the geographical ban, the judge imposed a curfew and said Neill was only allowed to use public transport and taxis.
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