photo storage Central Criminal Court A Dublin man charged with INLA membership has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court, despite the objections of gardai.
Paul Mason (26) with an address at Ballygarra Park, Garristown, Co Dublin was earlier this month brought before a late sitting of the non-jury court charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State, to wit an organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise the INLA on May 7, 2014.
Detective Garda Peter Cooney, of Ardee Garda Station, this morning told State Solicitor Mr Liam Mulholland that gardai were objecting to bail on monetary grounds as it was believed a proposed independent surety of €5,000 did not reflect the seriousness of the charge of INLA membership.
The court heard that gardai also objected to bail on other grounds.
Det Gda Cooney agreed with counsel for Mr Mason, Mr Marc Thompson Grolimund BL, that gardai were seeking bail conditions based on an independent surety of €20,000.
He accepted that Mr Mason has been unemployed for a substantial period of time and that his mother was not a person of substantial means.
Asked if he accepted that a €5,000 independent surety was substantial amount for both Mr Mason and his mother, Det Gda Cooney said he accepted it was a substantial amount personally but said it did not reflect the seriousness of the charge.
Presiding judge Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley said the court was disposed to settle the terms of bail. She said the main difficulty was the amount proffered and although it was accepted that €5,000 was a substantial amount personally, the court found the sum was too low and would require an independent surety of €8,500.
She said that Mr Mason must also reside at his mother’s address, sign on daily at a garda station and observe a curfew between 9pm and 9am. He is to keep a mobile phone on his person at all times and is not to interfere with any witnesses in the case.
Mr Mason is also to stay out of Co Louth, save in advance of 24 hours notice to gardai, and is not to associate with anyone convicted of or charged with an offence.
