Violence in Derry on Easter Monday is believed to have been orchestrated by the New IRA to prevent police from investigating a dissident republican parade, a court has been told.
A 55-year-old man charged with offences under the Terrorism Act was at the parade in a "professional capacity" providing security, his solicitor said.
He said that Thomas Joseph Moore had provided security at numerous events in the city, including a visit by former US president Bill Clinton.
Mr Moore, from Farren Park in Derry, appeared at the city's magistrates’ court via videolink from a PSNI station in Belfast.
He is charged with managing a meeting in support of the IRA.
He is also accused of aiding and abetting unknown people in wearing paramilitary clothing in support of a proscribed organisation and aiding and abetting unknown people in failing to comply with conditions imposed by the Parades Commission.
The annual march in Derry, which marks the 1916 Easter Rising, involved a colour party of people carrying flags and wearing paramilitary-style uniforms with their faces covered.
The parade, which started in the Creggan estate, concluded with speeches at Free Derry corner in the Bogside area.
Nearby, a crowd of mostly young people threw several petrol bombs and fireworks at police vehicles stationed close to the city’s historic walls overlooking the Bogside.
In a change of approach from recent years, the organisers of the parade - the National Republican Commemoration Committee - had applied to the Parades Commission for permission for the event.
In its determination allowing the march to proceed, the commission explicitly prohibited the wearing of paramilitary-style clothes and flags linked to proscribed organisations.
During his court appearance, when asked if he understood the charges, Mr Moore replied: "I do".
'Failure to comply' with ruling on march, court hears
A PSNI detective inspector said that he could connect the accused to the offences.
The officer told the court that the Derry parade "traditionally results in significant public disorder".
On Monday, he said, a number of the participants were masked and observed to be wearing paramilitary-style uniform and "this was a direct failure to comply with first condition set by the Parades Commission."
The officer said that Mr Moore was identified by an air support unit directing a group of masked men to the starting point for the march.
He added: "There were several outbursts of public disorder with petrol bombs being thrown at police by youths.
"One petrol bomb struck a building that needed to be extinguished by police.
"It is assessed that this is highly likely to have been orchestrated by the New IRA to prevent police from disrupting the now illegal parade."
The officer said that approximately 50 fireworks and 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police and some roads had to be closed.
The detective inspector told the court that Mr Moore was observed, at the end of the parade, walking to a dark-coloured gazebo.
"The only purpose of this gazebo appears to be to facilitate the changing of clothes by the masked and uniformed parade members," he said.
"At that stage police believe young people were shamelessly and deliberately used to distract police from that area and distract police from gaining evidence of people changing out of their parade clothing."
The officer said the PSNI believes that Mr Moore had an "active role" in the march and objected to bail on the grounds of potential witness interference.
Court told accused at march in 'professional capacity'
Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said his client had worked in the security business for 35 years and had stewarded many events in the city.
"In his stewarding capacity he manages the safety of participants and plays no role in organising any event or what is happening," the solicitor said.
He told the court that Mr Moore had been named as a steward for the parade in the application submitted to the Parades Commission.
The message had been conveyed to those who were at the parade that the event was legal, stating his client was there in a "professional capacity".
The solicitor said that he had spoken to the individual who had made the application to the Parades Commission and it was his understanding that participants would be allowed to "stage a re-enactment from the 1970s" as part of the event.
He added: "If Mr Moore does the Clipper Festival he doesn’t go down to Foyle Authority and ask can that boat come up the Foyle, he doesn’t speak to the council to ask is St Patrick entitled to chase those snakes.
"He is by definition security and that is what he does and he works hand in hand with the PSNI on a regular basis."
District Judge Brian Archer said he would grant bail.
A prosecution lawyer said that decision would be appealed to the High Court in Belfast.
The case was adjourned until 22 May.
