Man accused of possessing explosives on eve of Queen visit granted bail

A Co Longford man charged with having an explosive device on the eve of the State visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic last month has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court.

Donal Billings (aged 60), of St Bridget’s Court, Drumlish, Co Longford was charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at Longford railway station car park on May 16 last.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said that although gardaí had objected to bail, the court was satisfied that Billings had no previous convictions for offences committed whilst on bail.

After today’s hearing, which was conducted in Irish through the use of an interpreter, Mr Justice Butler said the court would grant bail on an independent surety of €10,000 and impose a number of strict conditions.

Mr Justice Butler, sitting with Judge John O’Hagan and Judge Cormac Dunne, said these would include the provision that Billings live at an address nominated by gardaí and that he observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am.

Mr Justice Butler said that Billings must also sign on each day at an agreed garda staion between 9am and 9pm and allow gardaí to call to his address at any time ensure he is complying with his bail conditions.

Billings is also to surrender his passport and cannot apply for any new travel documentation or leave the Republic of Ireland.

He must agree not to contact any proposed prosecution witnesses in the case and is to ensure that a mobile phone number provided to gardaí is contactable at all times and be the sole number used by him.

Detective Inspector Pat Finley told today’s hearing that gardaí were objecting to bail as they believed Billings was a flight risk and was unlikely to stand trial if released on bail.

He told solicitor Michael O’Donovan, for the State, that there was a significant case against Billings, including evidence that a mobile phone SIM card found in his car was used to place a number of bomb warning calls to Longford garda station.

Det. Insp. Finley said that one of the calls claimed that there was a bomb on a bus travelling from Ballina, Co Mayo to Dublin. A viable explosives device was later found on a bus travelling from Ballina after it was stopped in Maynooth, Co Kildare on May 16, in a widely reported incident.

He said that a petrol container was also found in Billing’s car while a search of his house revealed a soldering iron and electrical tape.

Det. Insp. Finley said that gardaí believed that Billings was not permanently resident in the Republic, as he held bank accounts in Northern Ireland, had a UK driving license, and had properties in the UK and in Tunisia, where he had lived for a number of years.

Det. Insp. Finley agreed with Mr Patrick Giblin SC, for Billings, that the accused man had received social welfare payments to care for his sickly brother who was living in Longford.

He said he was aware that the house held in Northern Ireland was being rented out and that Billings could not live in the house in Tunisia as it was in the possession of a woman from that country. However, Det Insp Finley said he was aware of these matters only from the account Billings had given to gardaí.

Billings also took to the stand at today’s hearing. Asked by Mr Giblin whether he would attend any trial, Billings replied affirmatively and told the court: “I am not guilty and want to put that forward”.

Mr Justice Butler remanded Billings in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court on June 28.