IRA suspects granted bail

Two Dublin men arrested as part of a Garda Special Branch investigation into dissident republicans were granted bail by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Gareth Kelly (aged 23), of Wheatfield Ave, Clondalkin and Robert Humphreys (aged 44), of Elmdale Crescent, Ballyfermot were charged on Tuesday with a number of offences.

Kelly was charged with the unlawful possession of a .38 inch Colt revolver and six rounds of ammunition at his home on March 14 and with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on the same date.

Humphreys was charged with the unlawful possession of explosive substances - one improvised electrical detonator, two coils of electrical wire for detonating commercial explosives and two panel mounted time delay relays - at his home on March 14.

He was also charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on the same date.

Today the court fixed independent bail at €20,000 for each man and also set certain conditions.

Kelly was ordered to sign on twice a day at Ronanstown garda station and to abide by a curfew from 11pm to 6am daily. He was also ordered to surrender his passport and not to associate with his co-accused or people convicted of scheduled offences.

Humphreys was ordered to sign on twice daily at Ballyfermot garda station, to abide by a curfew between 11pm and 6am daily and to surrender his passport and not to associate with his co-accused or people convicted of scheduled offences.

Both men were remanded in custody with consent to bail until April 5.