Derek Lammey gets sentence of 18 months for Pitt Park intimidation

A man has been given a sentence of 18 months for being part of a group of masked men involved in a loyalist “show of strength” in east Belfast.

Derek George Lammey, 60, of Spring Place, in east Belfast, was found guilty earlier this year of an offence of intimidation.

He will serve two thirds of his sentence in prison.

Judge Gordon Kerr KC delivered his judgement in May, following a non-jury trial which was held at Belfast Crown Court the previous month.

The charge relates to a gathering of nearly 40 masked men in the Pitt Park area, off the Lower Newtownards Road, in east Belfast, in February 2021.

The group then walked to Ballymacarrett Centre, which was occupied by women and children.

Those inside the centre included the wife and daughter of murdered local man Ian Ogle.

Mr Ogle was was beaten and stabbed a total of 11 times near his home in Cluan Place in January 2019.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Kerr said it was his view that Lammey was part of a “show of strength by a proscribed organisation”.

He added that he was “not in a position to say what organisation”, but that it was from the loyalist side.

The court heard that Lammey had 37 previous offences.

Some of those offences were terror related, but had been committed some time ago.

The court also heard that Lammey had never had a job, had been on benefits all his life and he was also alcohol dependent.