Court sets bail conditions for suspected dissident

The Special Criminal Court has fixed bail conditions for one of four men arrested during a garda operation into the activities of dissident republicans in Co Donegal last March.

Gary Donnelly (aged 38), Kildrum Gardens, Derry, Northern Ireland, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oghlaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on March 16, 2008.

The court was told that Donnelly was “anxious” to apply for bail because his partner is due to give birth on August 17.

Det Inspector Thomas Maguire told the court that the gardaí were happy with bail conditions but “feared” that an independent surety of less than €20,000 “wouldn’t be sufficient to ensure the accused would return for trial”.

The court heard that Donnelly has as yet been unable to come up with an independent surety.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge court, said that Donnelly, in order to get bail, “will have to get somebody to guarantee he will comply with bail conditions”.

He said that Donnelly may be released on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €20,000.

Mr Justice Butler went on to list the other bail conditions. Donnelly must sign on at Kilmainham garda station every day, must obey a curfew between midnight and 7am, must surrender his passport, must not associate with any persons convicted of a scheduled offence or his co-accused and must not enter Co Donegal.

Mr Justice Butler fixed bail for a limited period of 14 days to commence on a date notified by the defence to the prosecution four days beforehand.