One of the original members of Raise the Colours, a group that advocates for displaying English and British flags on lampposts, has been taken into custody and accused of murder.
Billy Allison, hailing from Solihull, made an appearance at Stafford Crown Court after facing charges of murder and Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent related to an incident in Lichfield on May 24.
Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street in Lichfield late on Sunday, 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 released. O’Gara was the director of The Plough pub in the nearby village of Huddlesford.
Allison, dressed in a blue long-sleeved top, stood before Judge Avik Mukherjee for a brief eight-minute session. A trial date was set for October 26, expected to span two weeks. The judge instructed Allison to attend his next court appearance in September and ordered him to be held in custody.
During the hearing, the judge reminded Allison of his responsibility to attend the trial daily. Following the proceedings, Allison nodded and was escorted back to the cells by a custody officer.
The Ricco and Loren bar expressed deep sorrow over the recent events and assured cooperation with the authorities throughout the investigation, announcing a temporary closure to provide support to their staff.
Allison is associated with Raise the Flag, a movement advocating for the public display of the Union Flag and St George’s Cross.