Three charged with IRA membership given leave to apply for bail

Three men arrested charged with IRA membership have been granted leave to apply for bail at the Special Criminal Court.

Desmond Donnelly (aged 57), of Drumall, Lisnarick, Co Fermanagh, Gerard McGarrigle (aged 45), of Mount Carmel Heights, Strabane and Jim Murphy, for whom no age or address is available, were each charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hireann, otherwise the IRA last February

The three were arrested at Letterkenny and Milford in Co Donegal on suspicion of membership of an illegal organisation.

The court has heard that when McGarrigle was arrested and cautioned by gardaí, he replied:``I think your laws is up the left and you are a disgrace to the Irish people.''

Donnelly was unable to appear in court for the bail hearing as he is ill in Portlaoise hospital.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, set bail for the accused on their own bond of €100 euro each, together with independent sureties of €15,000 each, €5,000 of which is to be lodged.

If they meet these conditions, they will have to hand in their passports to gardaí, sign on twice weekly, keep the peace and not associate with anyone convicted or charged with an offence, including their co-accused except in the event of joint legal consultations while on bail.

Mr Justice Butler refused leave to apply for compassionate bail on behalf of McGarrigle for his son's confirmation on May 8.

The court will hear the matter again on June 15, but the three men have been granted leave to apply for bail in the meantime.