One of the original members of Raise the Colours, a group known for displaying English and British flags on lampposts, has been taken into custody and formally accused of murder.
Billy Allison, a resident of Solihull, appeared in front of the Stafford Crown Court to face charges of murder and severe bodily harm with intent in relation to an incident that occurred in Lichfield on May 24.
Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street in Lichfield late on a Sunday night, where two men were reportedly assaulted. Matthew O’Gara, one of the victims, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on Tuesday, while the other victim, Adam Cooper, was treated and discharged. O’Gara was identified as the director of The Plough pub in Huddlesford.
Wearing a blue long-sleeved garment, Allison stood before Judge Avik Mukherjee in an eight-minute court session. A trial date, slated for October 26 and expected to span two weeks, was scheduled during the hearing.
Addressing the defendant, the judge announced that Allison would be remanded into custody until his next court appearance in September. Allison was instructed to be present daily for the duration of the trial.
Following the proceedings, Allison, with hands clasped in front of him, was escorted back to the holding cells by a custody officer.
A representative from the Ricco and Loren bar expressed deep distress over the recent events, stating their cooperation with law enforcement and temporary closure to support their staff during this trying period.
Allison, a member of the Raise the Flag movement advocating for the public display of the Union Flag and St George’s Cross, remains entangled in legal proceedings.
