Men charged with INLA membership granted bail

Two men charged with INLA membership were granted bail at the Special Criminal Court today.

John McCrossan (46), Ballycoleman Estate, Strabane, Co Tyrone, and Neil Myles, of no fixed abode, are charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the INLA on February 22, contrary to the Offences against the State Act.

The men were granted bail on their own bonds of €100 and an independent surety of €20,000 each.

In addition, they must reside in Ireland, obey a curfew between 11pm and 7am, surrender their passports, report daily to a garda station between 9am and 9pm and not enter Co Cork.

They will have to have a mobile phone in order to be contacted and are forbidden from associating with each other or any persons convicted or charged with scheduled offences.

The accused were also told not to contact directly or indirectly any witnesses the prosecution intend to call.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge court, remanded the men until April 15 when the case will be mentioned again.